Il richiamo della foresta

Di Jack London

Edizione integrale
Introduzione di Mario Picchi

«Buck sembrava davvero un demonio dagli occhi rossi quando si raccolse per prendere lo slancio, con il pelo ritto, la bocca schiumante, un luccichio folle negli occhi iniettati di sangue».

L’epica della natura selvaggia trova un’altissima espressione in questo breve e densissimo romanzo, in scene di indimenticabile potenza. La descrizione del mondo degli uomini attraverso lo sguardo del cane si fonde con un’esaltante e tesa rappresentazione della ricerca di amore e libertà. Considerato il capolavoro di Jack London, Il richiamo della foresta è una delle opere letterarie più lette e conosciute al mondo. London lo scrisse di getto alla fine del 1902 e riuscì a farlo pubblicare l’anno successivo sul «Saturday Evening Post».
Jack London
pseudonimo di John Griffith Chaney, nacque nel 1876 a San Francisco. Viaggiò moltissimo ed esercitò i più svariati mestieri, da mozzo a cacciatore di foche, da lustrascarpe a commerciante. Esordì come scrittore pubblicando i suoi racconti su periodici locali. Morì, forse suicida, nel 1916. Di Jack London la Newton Compton ha pubblicato Il richiamo della foresta, Zanna Bianca e altre storie di cani; Il Tallone di ferro; Il lupo dei mari e Racconti della pattuglia guardiapesca; Martin Eden e la raccolta I grandi romanzi e i racconti.

• Lingua: Italiano
• Editore: Newton Compton Editori
• Data di uscita: 31 lug 2014
• ISBN: 9788854172975

Jack London

Jack London (1876-1916) was an American novelist and journalist. Born in San Francisco to Florence Wellman, a spiritualist, and William Chaney, an astrologer, London was raised by his mother and her husband, John London, in Oakland. An intelligent boy, Jack went on to study at the University of California, Berkeley before leaving school to join the Klondike Gold Rush. His experiences in the Klondike—hard labor, life in a hostile environment, and bouts of scurvy—both shaped his sociopolitical outlook and served as powerful material for such works as “To Build a Fire” (1902), The Call of the Wild (1903), and White Fang (1906). When he returned to Oakland, London embarked on a career as a professional writer, finding success with novels and short fiction. In 1904, London worked as a war correspondent covering the Russo-Japanese War and was arrested several times by Japanese authorities. Upon returning to California, he joined the famous Bohemian Club, befriending such members as Ambrose Bierce and John Muir. London married Charmian Kittredge in 1905, the same year he purchased the thousand-acre Beauty Ranch in Sonoma County, California. London, who suffered from numerous illnesses throughout his life, died on his ranch at the age of 40. A lifelong advocate for socialism and animal rights, London is recognized as a pioneer of science fiction and an important figure in twentieth century American literature.

Anteprima del libro

509

Titolo originale: The Call of the Wind

Traduzione di Laura Felici

Prima edizione ebook: settembre 2014

© 1992, 2013, 2014 Newton Compton editori s.r.l.

Roma, Casella postale 6214

ISBN 978-88-541-7297-5

www.newtoncompton.com

Edizione elettronica realizzata da Gag srl

Jack London

Il richiamo

della foresta

Introduzione di Mario Picchi

Edizione integrale

Newton Compton editori

Introduzione

Sul settimanale Collier’s del 5 settembre 1908, Jack London pubblicò un articolo di veemente polemica contro i rimproveri che gli erano stati mossi a proposito di due suoi libri che avevano per protagonisti dei cani. L’articolo, scritto nel mese di marzo da Papetee (Tahiti), s’intitolava Il cane, questo fratello detto «inferiore» e se la prendeva con due persone, una delle quali era nientemeno che il presidente americano Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), appassionato cacciatore. Ma Roosevelt veniva liquidato ben presto. Nell’articolo da lui scritto per una rivista, il presidente «pretendeva» di condannare London per queste due accuse: «1. Aveva fatto perdere a un cane lupo la lotta contro un bulldog. 2. Aveva permesso a una lince di uccidere in battaglia un cane lupo». Quanto alla prima accusa, per London si trattava «d’una semplice divergenza di opinione», su cui non meritava soffermarsi. Quanto alla seconda, si sbrigava alla svelta: «Il presidente ha sbagliato, deve avere letto troppo in fretta perché nel mio libro il cane lupo prevale sulla lince; e non soltanto la uccide, ma la mangia». In conclusione, «il presidente Roosevelt non è altro che un dilettante. Senza dubbio sa qualcosa di politica e di caccia grossa», ma per quanto riguarda l’analisi della vita animale e i metodi e gli scopi dell’evoluzione, bisogna dire «che non ne capisce niente e non si è neppure dato molto da fare per capire».

Al secondo avversario, John Burroughs, «che si proclama completo evoluzionista», London dedicava assai più spazio e considerazione, pur non risparmiandogli unghiate («è duro per un giovane prendersela con un vecchio»). L’argomento di Burroughs e di Roosevelt contro London era lo stesso: gli animali non ragionano, a loro basta l’istinto. Ma, come si è visto, senza nessun rispetto né per la persona né per la carica, London liquidava Roosevelt con quattro parole, riservando la confutazione vera e propria a quello dei due che ne sapeva di più. E avanti a ribattere gli esempi da costui addotti e a proporre i suoi propri esempi, fondati sull’esperienza personale.

A parte la vivacità del tono, bisogna dire che, oggi, gli argomenti di London non appaiono più convincenti di quelli dei suoi contendenti. Lo stesso titolo dell’articolo, che rifletteva una sua convinzione sempre più radicata con gli anni avrebbe fatto orrore all’etologo Konrad Lorenz, il quale nel suo libro E l’uomo incontrò il cane ha scritto: «Mi rattrista sempre sentire quella frase malvagia e totalmente falsa: le bestie sono migliori degli uomini. Non lo sono affatto!»; aggiungendo poi: «Anche il cane più fedele è amorale, secondo il significato umano della responsabilit໹.

L’abbiamo visto, l’ideologia di London è quello che è: di poco o nessun interesse in sé e per sé; degna di considerazione in quanto è spesso il movente e il supporto della sua opera. E, spesso, quanto slancio essa dà alla sua fantasia allucinata, quella fantasia di cui egli non aveva quasi alcun controllo. L’accanita difesa della sua «veridicità» naturalista in questo e in altri casi ci dà la misura di quanto poco London fosse consapevole dell’essenza mitica e visionaria della sua narrativa.

Tornato negli Stati Uniti nell’ottobre 1902, dopo un soggiorno di due mesi a Londra, trascorsi travestito da vagabondo a esplorare i bassifondi di Londra per scrivere il drammatico reportage The People of the Abyss (Il popolo dell’abisso), London per riposarsi scrisse di getto quello che è unanimemente considerato il suo capolavoro, uno dei libri più venduti e ammirati in ogni paese del mondo, entrato a far parte del ristretto patrimonio delle grandi opere letterarie: The Call of the Wild (Il richiamo della foresta), che uscì a puntate sulla Saturday Evening Post nell’estate 1903 e poi in volume da Macmillan. A George Brett, direttore editoriale della Macmillan, London scrisse il 10 marzo 1903:

Tutta la genesi di questo romanzo è stata assai rapida. Tornando dall’Inghilterra, mi sono seduto per scriverla in una dozzina di pagine, ma mi è sfuggita di mano e sono stato costretto a farla della attuale lunghezza. [Non mi piace il titolo Il richiamo della foresta. Mi sono lambiccato il cervello per trovarne un altro. Ho proposto: Il lupo che dorme.]

Uno dei migliori biografi di Jack London, Andrew Sinclair, ha scritto a proposito del Richiamo della foresta che «non si tratta tanto della storia di un cane che diventa lupo quanto d’una allegoria della vita, della morte e della natura». Eppure, secondo una testimonianza della figlia Joan, più tardi lo scrittore negò d’avere avuto alcuna intenzione allegorica: «Allora non ne sapevo nulla. Non intendevo affatto così». Ma non si deve dimenticare che, già nella combriccola di amici chiamata The Crowd (la folla), Jack era soprannominato «il lupo», contrapposto a George Sterling che era «il greco» e la sua casa nel ranch di Glenn Ellen, nella Valle della luna, era denominata «la casa del lupo». E ancora: a partire dal 1903 le lettere agli intimissimi erano firmate «Lupo», chiamò Lupo bruno un cane husky, il suo ex libris raffigurava un lupo... Probabilmente, nell’inconscio di London, il titolo da lui proposto, ma non accettato dall’editore, per Il richiamo della foresta, conteneva, mischiato e confuso col riferimento parascientifico all’evoluzione-involuzione dell’animale, quello, assai più profondo e vero, a se stesso identificato col cane lupo del libro, che, dopo essere stato costretto a reprimere la sua vera natura, poteva finalmente esprimere il suo destino nella solitudine selvaggia.

Ma, allegorie e interpretazioni messe da parte, bisogna ancora una volta ripetere quanta forza e novità si ritrovino in questo breve e densissimo libro dove tutto, il mito personale, la pretesa di entrare nella psicologia canina e di fornire addirittura ricordi del passato ancestrale di Buck, si fonde nell’esaltante e tesa rappresentazione della ricerca di amore e di libertà. Sia pure sbagliata, la descrizione del mondo e degli uomini attraverso un diverso punto di vista, quello del cane (espediente tanto usato in seguito da London), è talmente forte da colpire sempre. E quante splendide scene, dall’inseguimento della lepre (bianca sulla bianca neve) fino all’incontro col rivale Spitz, la scommessa della slitta (perfettamente sceneggiata), la corsa finale verso la nuova vita, in cui si sublima il grande tema londoniano (e tanto americano) della sopravvivenza. Inutile recriminare sulla errata catalogazione di questo, tra i libri per ragazzi, com’è accaduto per I viaggi di Gulliver e Robinson Crusoe: i grandi libri non hanno limitazione nell’età dei lettori ma soltanto nella capacità di capirli e gustarli.

Fra gli altri racconti, tutti notevoli, c’è uno dei vertici dell’arte di London: Farsi un fuoco, il racconto di London più spesso riprodotto nelle antologie (soltanto per l’inglese una quarantina di volte). Nei suoi Ricordi della guerra rivoluzionaria, Ernesto Guevara ricorda uno dei più drammatici momenti della sua vita: il 5 settembre 1956, quando era ferito e circondato dalle truppe del dittatore Batista:

Mi misi a pensare al modo migliore di morire in quel momento in cui tutto sembrava perduto. Mi tornò in mente un vecchio racconto di Jack London, in cui il personaggio, appoggiato contro un tronco d’albero, si prepara a finire la vita con dignità, sapendo d’essere condannato a morte per congelamento nelle gelide regioni dell’Alaska. È l’unica immagine di cui mi ricordi.

MARIO PICCHI

¹ Edizione italiana Adelphi, Milano, 19901, p. 55. Ma bisogna osservare che, quanto a psicologia canina (a parte l’infatuazione evoluzionista), London dà dei punti a Lorenz, il quale peraltro non dimostra di conoscerlo, e nel suo libro non lo cita mai.

Nota biobibliografica

CRONOLOGIA DELLA VITA

1876. 12 gennaio. A San Francisco (California) nasce John Griffith, figlio illegittimo dell’astrologo ambulante irlandese William H. Chaney e di Flora Wellman, cultrice di musica e spiritismo, di origine scozzese. Sette mesi prima del parto Flora aveva tentato due volte il suicidio, essendo stata scacciata dal suo convivente per avere rifiutato di abortire. 7 settembre. Flora sposa John London (conosciuto in una seduta spiritica), un vedovo che aveva avuto sette figli dal precedente matrimonio, di cui soltanto le due più piccole vivevano con lui. John London dà il suo nome al figlio di Flora, che sarà poi chiamato col diminutivo di Jack. La famiglia vive nella zona povera di San Francisco, ma comincia a spostarsi da una parte all’altra della baia per seguire John London che, dapprima muratore e falegname, fa successivamente il droghiere, l’ortolano, l’allevatore di polli. Jack cresce privo dell’affetto materno («non ho mai avuto infanzia», scriverà poi), ma curato dalla sua nutrice negra, Mammie Jenny, e dalla sorellastra Eliza, che ha nove anni più di lui. A sei anni sua madre Flora lo conduce a una seduta spiritica. Frequenta le scuole, come può, secondo i vari traslochi, ma è considerato un allievo difficile. Nel 1886, dopo un decennio di vagabondaggi e di fallimenti, John London torna a stabilirsi a Oakland, di fronte a San Francisco, dove Flora apre una pensione. 1886-89. Jack frequenta la Cole School dove si diploma nel 1889. Alla Oakland Public Library scopre il mondo dei libri e legge soprattutto narrazioni di viaggi e avventure ma la bibliotecaria Ina Coolbrith, poetessa, gli presta anche, dalla sua collezione privata, Anna Karenina e Madame Bovary . Intanto il ragazzo si dedica a mille piccoli lavoretti per contribuire alle spese familiari e raggranellare i due dollari per acquistare una barchetta con cui esplora in lungo e in largo la baia di San Francisco, sfogando la sua passione per il mare. 1890. Non ancora quindicenne Jack si dà alla piccola delinquenza, specialmente al saccheggio dei banchi di ostriche, beve, frequenta i bassifondi di Oakland facendosi coinvolgere in violente risse. Procurandosi non si sa bene come 300 dollari acquista uno sloop e diventa «il principe dei pirati di ostriche», arrivando a guadagnare fino a cento dollari per notte. Ma, dopo che la sua imbarcazione viene bruciata dai suoi rivali, Jack si ingaggia per un anno proprio nella squadriglia di scialuppe che combattono i pirati di ostriche (esperienza da cui nascono i racconti della Fish Patrol del 1905). Successivamente si dedica al vagabondaggio capeggiando, col soprannome di Frisco Kid (il ragazzo di San Francisco), una piccola banda con cui compie ruberie sui treni merci. 1893. 20 gennaio. Si arruola per una

Recensioni su Il richiamo della foresta

[viviennestrauss · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

Excellent writing but I can see why I didn't like this in junior high - the cruelty to animals is pretty difficult to take. I saw recently that this is on a "banned book" list - have no idea why.

[weeziesbooks · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

The Call of the Wild by Jack LondonI re-read Call of the Wild by listening to it on audio from Audible. Although I have read it a few times over the years, I wanted to refresh it in my mind before seeing the up-coming movie. I am so glad that I did. I never fail to be taken back to my positive reading experiences of youth and the simple and powerful story lines where classics such as: White Fang, Old Yeller, Where the Red fern Grows, and Call of the Wild bring to the reader. It is perfect for young readers and those that love animal or dog stories. It does describe the cruelties and hardships endured by these wonderful dogs so consider this when choosing for a child. I give this story a 5 stars and consider it a classic.

[suso711_1 · Valutazione: 1 su 5 stelle]

Horrid book.

[deaconbernie · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

It's hard to believe, that with 82 years of reading all sorts of books, this the first American Classic from an American Classic author that I''ve read. I'll try more of the classics but this work is no where near the top of my list of books. Yes, it is quite an adventure for this dog and he certainly had very many experiences but I can't get to the level of classical literature.

[dandelionroots · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

These tales are so brutal."All the easy moral maxims of social life are tested - and most found wanting - in this ferocious landscape. This sometimes seems to be one of London's driving motives, as though his calling is to remind everyone of the chill below the warmth of our cozy social conventions." (Tobey Hiller)

[theokester · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

I vaguely remember reading The Call of the Wild while I was in elementary school. I remembered it being a story about a sled dog in the cold wilderness of Alaska. Beyond that, I had forgotten nearly all of the plot and most of the characters and so it was with fairly fresh eyes that I reproached this book.The first thing I noticed that the book was told from a close 3rd person view of the DOG's perspective. I'm sure this point of view is one of the characteristics that made this book initially interesting to critics and educators. Fortunately there is a lot more to the book than a novel or quirky idea of telling the story from a dog's point of view. The perspective change didn't come off as cheesy or manipulative. Rather the narrative choice allowed us to see the story in a new mindset and brush away stereotypical thoughts and ideas. By stripping away our human perspective it leaves us open to seeing ideas and principles in a new light. Even though we are tied very closely to the dog Buck and his cohorts, the story doesn't become an animated cartoon or other scenario where the animals are humanized and given thoughts or speech. This choice was surprising but as I thought about it I found myself really appreciating the fact that even though the story is being told "through" Buck, we don't find Buck as fully anthropomorphized as you might see in other stories. While we read some of his general thoughts we don't "hear" him thinking or speaking in a human sense. I really liked this distinction as it keeps his animal self a bit more distance and less invaded by human traits seen in something like Animal Farm or other animal fiction tales. Still I can see the argument that we really can't know what an animal is thinking or feeling and so it is still certain that London has placed some human thoughts and motivations onto Buck that may not be wholly natural.As to the high level plot, we follow the life of Buck the dog from the time he is stolen from his warm, comfortable home in California and taken to the Yukon to be a sled dog during the gold rush. He is confused, angry and belligerent but he also quickly realizes the nature of the situation and the reliance on the humans for food, protection and care. Buck learns which humans to trust and how to behave around them and he also gets to know the other dogs on his team and in his camp. Over time Buck works in a variety of teams and for a variety of different people but the more and more he lives in the cold wilderness, the more he realizes there is something out there calling to him.I really enjoyed seeing Buck learning to navigate the harsh new world he'd been thrown into. Not only did he have to learn how to manage the cold snow (which he'd never seen before) and the bitter environment but he also had to deal with men and dogs who didn't respect him or care for him in the same way he was used to. He had to learn the ins and outs of a whole new social structure. by dealing with the new pack mentality of fighting for food and learning which dogs were leaders, which were followers and which would stand by neutrally. It also showcases his struggle between domestication or subservience to humans and the fight to return to his primitive nature and animal instincts.Overall I really enjoyed this story and can see why it's recommended reading for younger readers, especially younger boys. The story is fast paced and has some exciting action sequences. It deals with the life of dogs, adventurers and the unknown wilderness. Beyond its basic appeal to the readers, the book does a good job teaching about different aspects of the world. Even though it focuses on the life of a dog it can teach readers a lot about the nuances of social interaction, dealing with hardship, making difficult choices, loyalty, trust and love. There are some violent scenes that could trouble younger readers, especially animal lovers, but otherwise I see this as a great book for elementary kids or middle graders to read and I think adults can have a lot of fun with this as well.****4 out of 5 stars

[nx74defiant · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Very enjoyable. I felt like Buck's dreaming of prehistoric man was unnecessary and I think it would have been better without that.

[tapestry100 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Another one of those books that seems to have gotten past me in my school days, I just recently read The Call of the Wild for the first time. Like many of these books that I'm discovering pretty much everyone else has read except me, I think I'm glad that I came at them as an adult, as I don't think I would have revisited them had I read them earlier, and I don't think I would have taken away as much when I was younger. Jack London's story about Buck, a St. Bernard-Scotch Shepherd who is kidnapped from his idyllic southern California home to be a sled dog in the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush is a powerful tale. We follow Buck's journey as he discovers that not all men are kind like his previous owners, learns to navigate the ins and outs of the sled dog's pack pecking order, and finally as he discovers the primal nature of his being as he eventually starts to venture out into the wilderness on his own. The imagery that London uses in describing Buck's discovery of that primal nature is remarkable; I think of anything else in the book, I enjoyed these sequences best.

[enockpioulle · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

It's great juvenile literature, however, adults could also enjoy it for its so many fine qualities. Dog lovers and nature lovers in general will share more than one state of mind with Buck and the general description of the wilderness. Highly recommended.

[phillipjreese · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Great book!

[angelarenea-1 · Valutazione: 1 su 5 stelle]

Maybe it's because I'm not a dog, but I just don't find it interesting being in the mind of Buck. I was very excited to read this because so many people raved about it, but it just didn't hold my interest even as a child.

[lisamaria_c · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

One of those classics that's definitely no chore, and one assessable even when I read it as a child. I'm not about to forget Buck, a dog who hears the call of the wild. And as is the case with a friend who also loves this book, the sledge hauling contest is indelibly impressed into my mind. How many books can you say leave that kind of impression decades later? One of those stories that can make an animal protagonist come alive. (And the same can be said for London's other novel with a dog protagonist--White Fang).

[jenn.s · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

This is a timeless classic that should be a must read for everyone. It's on the list of books my children will read and one of those I make sure the local library has a good copy of. The author knows what he's writing about and it shows as you read through a touching story about a dog growing up and the troubles he endures.

[revslick_1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

London is the master of adventure and Call never disappoints for when I need to escape for an afternoon through the eyes of Buck. I usually read it every few years.

[liscarey · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

Another childhood favorite.

[heggiep · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

I read this book a few pages at a time (distracted by Facebook, Instagram & Twitter - the usual suspects). When I finally finished it I felt I had read a wonderful, though quite violent, story. Yes, despite flaws, a great tale.

[firewild · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Trust, betrayal, loyalty and animal cruelty. A heart wrenching story about the life of dogs during the gold rush from an animal POV. I am not always a fan of such an approach but it worked well here. Highly engaging (worked well for an audiobook) but not black and white, as I could relate even to the most "evil" characters. I guess that's why it's a "classic" (mental note: "Read more classics"=).

[msaucier818 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

This book was a nice change of pace for me as I hadn't read a classic story in quite some time. I must say, I really enjoyed this short novel centered around the dog Buck. I think it is a very interesting idea to center a book around a dog, and London pulls it off beautifully. It takes us through the entire life of the dog, from his life on a farm to his days as a sled dog in Alaska. The transformation Buck makes from domesticated pet to primitive, instinctual animal is fascinating to read and think about. The descriptive language used by the author is outstanding. Overall, I can see why this is considered a classic and I look forward to reading more of him.

[eadieb-1 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

I listened to this audio and enjoyed the story very much. I can't believe I never read this before. I loved Jack London's intuitive feeling for animals. This story traces Buck's sudden entry into the wild and his education in survival among the wolves. Jack London's writing is exceptional and makes him one of the greatest American storytellers. If you haven't read this yet, you should as it is a quick, easy and thrilling read.

[hopeevey · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

I was quite impressed by this book. I expected a simple, canine adventure story. I did get an adventure story, but the most interesting part was the inner journey. As you read it, keep in mind that Mr. London sets up Buck as a person. It's easy to identify with him, and more difficult to identify with most of the humans in the story. It's definitely food for thought.

[ecataldi-1 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Honestly, the best part about this book was that it was narrated by Jeff Bridges. I love animal books but I feel as if I really would have enjoyed this much more in my youth. The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a mixed breed dog who is stolen from cozy home and his lush life as a house dog to be taken up north to be a sled dog during the Yukon Gold Rush. Buck quickly acclimates to the tough life and sets himself apart from the other dogs with his strength, smarts, and cunning. Told entirely through Buck's perspectives, this was one of the first popular books that had an animal as a narrator. To me the most interesting parts were about the wilderness, the scenery, and the people; it was a fascinating time during the late 1800s! Even though it is a little violent, this is a great kids book, especially for animal lovers!

[kikiunhinged · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

I wan't sure I was going to like a book like this but ended up reading it in one day. I'm still amazed how he wrote this incredible yet credible story which felt pretty much from the dog's POV and yet, not. The omniscient. I learned quite a bit from this story about mushing, the dogs, Alaska, and the period. Society conveniently forgets that our dogs descended from wolves and even though Buck was violently deprived of his posh former life, his regression to the wild was spiritually liberating. It was a gruesome story and I hate suffering in animals but I still appreciated it for the brilliant writing and look forward to more of London's writing.

[debnance_1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Buck is a dog, jerked from a life of comfort and easy living, sold to a messenger who makes deliveries by dog sled across the cold wilds of Alaska. Buck changes, becomes stronger, fiercer, braver, bolder.

[gbev2008 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

I never read this as a youngster though it seemed to be "unofficially required" reading in elementary school. I always assumed it was man and his dog story, but it turned out to be civilized dog returns to wilderness story told from the dog's point of view. And it worked well. Very well written and engaging.

[technolepsy · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

A sad, wonderful tale.

[alexap.b3 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

I read Call of the Wild. In the book, Buck (the main character), was a domesticated dog who lived on a farm. He was sold to be a sled dog and his life changed forever. Buck was put in a cage for many days until someone would buy him. He was beaten to show that the master had power over him. When someone bought him he was hooked up on the sled. Buck and Spitz (another sled dog) didn't get along from the beginning. When Buck became stronger and more powerful, Spitz was afraid that Buck would overpower him. When they had enough of each other Buck killed Spitz and took the role of lead dog. Then three people bought all of the dogs from the other owners. The three people didn't bring enough food for all of the dogs so the dogs became tired and couldn't pull the sled. Eventually Buck gave up and Jonathan (one of the men) was stabbed. They were left and on the side of the road while the sled left them. The sled broke through the ice and all the dogs and men died. Buck and Jonathan became good friends and went on many adventures together. Buck wanted to go with wolves but loved his new owner too much. When Jonathan died, Buck left and joined the wolves.The book was rated a four. I would rate this book a three because for me it was hard to understand. I couldn't tell if it was being told from the dogs view or third person but about the dog. I would recommend it because it is a classic, but not for young kids. I definitely think it is a good book. I thought the ending was good because throughout the book he said that the wild was calling for him. I watched the movie and it was nothing like the book. I would recommend the book over the movie any day.

[librarycin · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

3.5 stars.This is the story of Buck, a dog who lives with a family, but is then taken and sold and trained to work alongside sled-dogs in the Yukon during the gold rush. Buck is sold a few times to masters who all treat him differently, some kindly, some not-so-kindly. The story is told from Buck’s point of view. The edition I read has a foreword by Jean Craighead George, who wrote the Julie of the Wolves trilogy. There is an “About the author” at the end as well. It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once I did I quite enjoyed it. I like reading the dog’s perspective. The information about Jack London I also enjoyed – it seems he had an interesting life.

[ague_3 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

I rated this book a 9 out of 10. It is a great adventure story about a dog, and thus little or no dialogue takes place.

[agage_9 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Jack London's "Call of the Wild" follows the journey of one dog as he laboriously toils in the artic regions of Canada and comes closer and closer to answering his true calling. The main character, a mixed breed dog named Buck, is pulled suddenly away from his life in domesticated society and is sold into the strenuous world of dog sledding. He goes through many hard experiences and learns valuable lessons about the primitive world and the "Law of Club and Fang." He often finds himself either at the receiving end of harsh blows from the club or in fights to the death with his fellow teammates as tries to assert his dominance among them. He is continuously passed from owner to owner and suffers through different experiences with each. Each step he takes as sled dog makes him less and less of a domestic animal and more of a "thing of the wild." He begins to acquire some of the traits of his ancestors, such as acting on impulse, while all the while wrestling whether or not to give into the call of the wild. "The Call of the Wild" relates to our Search for Self theme because the main character, Buck, spends the entire novel taking steps that bring him closer towards reconnecting with his inner "beast." In a way, the novel is similar to "The Alchemist" in that Buck is called towards his destiny in the wild, but must choose whether to answer that call or remain tied to humans and the domestic world. In this book, the idea of "self" mainly equates to the awakening of Buck's ancestors within himself, and his longing to enter into the primitive world. He spends a great deal of time searching in the forest for the source of what drives him there in the first place. As I began reading the novel, I quickly learned that the book was not what I had expected it to be. It was extremely graphic, to say the least. Each chapter featured some sort of brutality against Buck or the other dogs as they were either beaten mercilessly with a club, starved to death and killed with an ax, or ripped savagely apart by their fellow teammates. I typically hate to read, watch, hear, or see any form of animal abuse (I know, I'm such a girl...) so it was really hard for me to concentrate on the message within the story while all this torture and death was going on. Moving past the graphic parts, however, I thought the novel overall was very compelling and intriguing. I loved the way the story was written and the ability of the narrator to be in Buck's shoes and feel what he was feeling without actually having Buck do any physical talking either mentally or verbally. Since dogs obviously can't talk, this feature made the novel seem more realistic, yet still formulated a strong bond between the reader and Buck. Many of the reviews on this site have said that they read this book in high school as a requirement, and I can see why. It was a simple, quick read that still was chalk full of advanced literary elements and techniques that could be included in a literary analysis chart. I would recommend it to anyone who wouldn't mind reading all the graphic details and who was looking for something to read and finish relatively quickly.

[gamermom2004 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

A great story of the struggle between tame and wild. A true classic that everyone should read. Great for the younger generations.