Jack London's Dog - Hardcover

Wales, Dirk

  • 3.60 out of 5 stars
    20 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780963245939: Jack London's Dog
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0963245937 ISBN 13: 9780963245939
Publisher: Great Plains Pr, 2008

Synopsis

In 1897 Jack London went to the Gold Rush in the Yukon. This was to be a harsh time in the North Country with 100,000 men from all over America as well as other countries who came to strike it rich. However, Jack London landed just as the Fall "freeze up" came and no one could pan for gold until Spring.While waiting to strike it rich, London stayed with other men on Split Up Island. There he met the dog of another man. The dog's name was also Jack, and he and London became friends. When the thaw came in the Spring and it was time to pan for gold, London was ill and had to return to San Francisco. As a result of his experiences in the raw North Country, he would write Call of the Wild. He used his friend Jack as a model for Buck, dog of the North.Call of the Wild immediately became a hit in American and London the most popular author. So, we know what happened to Jack London, Buck and Call of the Wild, but, what happened to Jack, the dog who was left behind? This is his story.

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About the Author

Imagine reading Call of the Wild for the first time and falling in love with the lore and dogs of the North Country in the Yukon? Because Dirk Wales grew up in Los Angeles, he has been often to visit Wolf House and the home of Jack London and his wife. Then, the smallest miracle:he learned that the model for Buck in London's timless novel was a dog named Jack, that there was a photograph of the dog alongside the cabin where Jack London stayed during his time in the gold country in the Yukon. There is a sory there, thought Dirk, a good story about the dog who was left behind after Jack London returned to San Francisco.Storytelling is one of the things Mr Wales learned as a theatre major at UCLA where he majored in playwriting and direction. Storytelling is what books, theatre, and films are about. Dirk has had the good fortune to work as a writer and director in all those media for all of his career. He considers himself a lucky dog to be able to write books for children. His other books include: A Lucky Dog: Owney, U.S. Rail Mail Mascot, Penny House and Twice A Hero: Polish American Heroes of The American Revolution.Dirk Wales lives in Chicago and Santa Fe.

From the Back Cover

There are stories behind all great legends. In 1903 Call of the Wild became an American Classic, and Jack London became the most popular author in America until he died in 1916.An unknown part of the legend was a dog whose name was also Jack. This dog lived with Jack London for a short period during the Yukon gold rush of 1987. They became friends. When London became ill and had to leave the gold country before panning for the yellow dust, he remembered Jack, the dog. He used Jack as a model for Buck, the mythic hero of Call of the Wild.We know what happened to Jack London, to Buck and to Call of the Wild, but what happened to Jack, the dog who was left behind. This is our story.

From the Inside Flap

There are stories behind all great legends. In 1903 Call of the Wild became an American Classic, and Jack London became the most popular author in America until he died in 1916.An unknown part of the legend was a dog whose name was also Jack. This dog lived with Jack London for a short period during the Yukon gold rush of 1987. They became friends. When London became ill and had to leave the gold country before panning for the yellow dust, he remembered Jack, the dog. He used Jack as a model for Buck, the mythic hero of Call of the Wild.We know what happened to Jack London, to Buck and to Call of the Wild, but what happened to Jack, the dog who was left behind. This is our story.

Reviews

Grade 5–9—What might have happened to the dog that belonged to Jack London during his days in the Yukon? Jack the dog was the inspiration for Buck in The Call of the Wild, and was left behind when London returned to California. Wales uses his imagination and knowledge of both London's life and the life of gold rush dogs to tell this tale. Using simple but eloquent language, he details Jack's new life with rough and brutal owners, his rescue by a compassionate man, and finally his legendary status as the Avalanche Dog and beloved companion to a nine-year-old girl whom he rescued. Slow paced at first, the narrative builds toward a dramatic rescue and satisfying ending. The book is handsomely designed and illustrated with Moser's relief engravings, which give a stark reality to the scenes. This stately story may not fly off the shelves, but it deserves a place for its own unique qualities and serves as a fine companion piece to The Call of the Wild.—Kathryn Kosiorek, formerly at Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Great Plains Pr
Publication date
2008
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0963245937
ISBN 13 
9780963245939
Binding
Hardcover
Illustrator
Moser Barry
Edition number
1
Number of pages
60
Rating
  • 3.60 out of 5 stars
    20 ratings by Goodreads