Call of the Wild, The

Buck, a huge four-year-old Scottish Shepherd-Saint Bernard cross-breed, lived a life of ease at Judge Miller's Santa Clara Valley estate. This is the story of Buck and how he was thrust into the life of a sled-dog in the savage Klondike during the Gold Rush, and how he ran with the wolves. Jack London, born in San Francisco on January 12, 1876, is well known for his stories involving men and animals and their struggles in the environment. Being an illegitimate child, he adopted his stepfather's surname. London had an adventurous life which included being an oyster pirate, a laundromat worker, a seaman and a participating in the 1897-98 Alaskan Gold Rush. His personal life adventures, idealism and belief that the fittest should survive inspired much of his writing. He wrote 50 books in 20 years, the most widely acclaimed being the story of the dog Buck in The Call of the Wild. London died at the age of 40 on November 22, 1916. He was the most successful and best-known writer in America in the first decade of the 20th century. Michael Kramer has narrated hundreds of audiobooks and received numerous awards including AudioFile magazine's Earphone Award.