The Call of the Wild by Jack London – Book Review

I have always enjoyed reading the classics; and when I saw there was a remake of the movie ‘The Call of the Wild’ I decided to read the book again. The remake starring Harrison Ford had nothing to do with my decision. (Do you believe me? ?). The Call of the Wild is a classic that most of us probably read in a literature class in school. Written by Jack London in 1903 it is a story set in the Yukon wilderness during the 1890’s Klondike Gold Rush period when sled dogs were popular and necessary for travel. The main character in the story is Buck, a dog stolen from his home and sold in Alaska as a sled dog. Buck is forced to fight other dogs to survive in the harsh climate. He rids himself of his domesticated habits and learns to rely on primal instincts to emerge as a leader in the wild Yukon. The story is truly a tale of survival of the fittest. Reading this story again after many years I was surprised by some of the violent scenes that take place in the wilderness. Although the story is well written and has become a classic over the years, it may be better suited for a more mature audience.

The story has been published numerous times and made into several different movies since being published. Charlton Heston starred in an adaption of the book in 1972 and Rick Schroder in 1992. It’s always interesting to see how true the movie stays to the book.