Martin Eden is a semi-autobiographical tale from Jack London, following Martin Eden a destitute sailor with dreams of rising above poverty to become a best-selling author. Only by achieving financial and literary success can he hope to rise above his proletariat life and have a chance to marry Ruth Morse, the daughter of a wealthy San Francisco family. Through intense and passionate self-education similar to London’s own experience, he will do whatever it takes to succeed. This passionate, and heart breaking tale is a critique by London on individualism as well as an expression of frustration felt by authors to the cold indifference of the publishing industry. It is a beautiful story with a stunning conclusion and makes brilliant reading for any Jack London fans looking for an insight in to his own life.
Jack London (1876–1916) was a pioneer, novelist, journalist and social activist. London was one of the first American authors to become an international celebrity thanks to his pioneering work in commercial fiction and magazines. Additionally he is accredited as a major innovator in the genre we now know as science fiction. Growing up in a working class background and spending several years homeless, he was a passionate fighter for workers’ rights, socialism, unionisation and animal rights. He would go on to be one of the highest paid authors in America thanks to his classics such as ‘Call of the Wild’, ‘White fang’ and ‘Sea Wolf’.
