Great American Stories: Ten Unabridged Classics

Book Description

These ten classic stories from four of America's greatest authors of the 19th and early 20th century were selected for their literary importance as well as their dramatic oral qualities. The stories include Mark Twain's "The One-Million Pound Bank Note," "A Visit to Niagara," and "A Mysterious Visit;" Stephen Crane's "The Blue Hotel;" Ambrose Bierce's "The Eyes of the Panther;" and Jack London's "The Love of Life" and "To Build a Fire."

Customer Reviews:

Negative, negative, negative.......2007-06-11

I bought this selection because of the title, which credits the stories to Mark Twain. I would have loved ten of his stories! Unfortunately, the selections for inclusion (other than Mr. Twain's) were some of the poorest examples of American literature that I have read. They weren't even good irony; they were just depressing. I'm sure there could be a great collection of American short stories; these were certainly not that.

Wonderful! .......2007-05-12

I bought this and a few other books on CD for my husband who has a bit of dislexia (sp?) and has trouble reading. He was so engrossed in the stories that if he were near the end of one, he would sit in the driveway and listen until it was done. So then, by proxy, I know all of the stories and it seems like a wonderful 'read'. This is a perfect gift for someone who enjoys fine adventure literature by fine authors.

Successful Gift.......2006-12-13

I purchased this for my father along with a selection of other audio books. He reported that he liked this one the best. Apparently the selection of stories was excellent, and the reading was clear and expressive.

great honest review.......2006-02-21

honestly, I would never waste my money again on such a load of junk... so much better lit out there... go surf amazon.com to find some really good books

Great American Stories: Ten Unabridged Classics.......2005-11-17

Book Description
These ten classic stories from four of America's greatest authors of the 19th and early 20th century were selected for their literary importance as well as their dramatic oral qualities. The stories include Mark Twain's "The One-Million Pound Bank Note," "A Visit to Niagara," and "A Mysterious Visit;" Stephen Crane's "The Blue Hotel;" Ambrose Bierce's "The Eyes of the Panther;" and Jack London's "The Love of Life" and "To Build a Fire."

Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper -- Case Closed (Berkley True Crime)

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This is the nearest we will ever get to knowing the truth about the Ripper
Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed
A speculative confection of a book that's taken too much abuse ....
IMPOTENT FURY!
Did we read the same book? Lots of evidence!

Portrait Of A Killer: Jack The Ripper -- Case Closed (Berkley True Crime)
Patricia Cornwell
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425192733
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Book Description

Now updated with new material that brings the killer's picture into clearer focus

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""No doubt there will always be skeptics, and critics tainted by self-interest who will refuse to accept that [Walter] Sickert was a serial killer, a damaged diabolical man driven by megalomania and hate. There will be those who will argue that it's all coincidence. As FBI profiler Ed Sulzbach says, 'There really aren't many coincidences in life. And to call coincidence after coincidence after coincidence a coincidence is just plain stupid.'" (Chap. 2 p.14 para. 4) -Patricia Cornwell, Portrait of a Killer In Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper, Case Closed, Cornwell combines the rigorous discipline of twenty-first century police investigation with forensic techniques undreamed of during the late Victorian era to solve one of the most infamous and difficult serial murder cases in history. medical procedures Sickert was forced to endure and reflects on the impact they might have had on the young boy. She also explores the ways in which women might have served as a dangerous reminder of his infuriating and humiliating abnormality. (Chap. 1 p.5 para. 3) ?

Customer Reviews:

This is the nearest we will ever get to knowing the truth about the Ripper.......2007-09-25

JACK THE RIPPER

REVIEW BY SALLY RAMAGE

OF

"PORTRAIT OF A KILLER:JACK THE RIPPER CASE CLOSED"

by Patricia Cornwell, Sphere Books, Little, Brown Book Group, London, 2003. ISBN 978-0-7515-3359-0

Patricia Cornwell is the Director of Applied Science at the National Forensic Academy. Her book is so gripping that I read it from first page to last page without putting it down.

It is obvious that the writer is a criminologist. She wrote this structured book with a beginning, middle and an end.

She tells the reader at the beginning that she concludes that Jack the Ripper was no other than Walter Sickert the artist. She then takes the reader through all the evidence and there is little doubt that her findings are sound. Cornell's writing is objective, scientific, methodical, and intelligent.

She reminds the reader that the `Jack the Ripper' killings were British and I can see reflections of the Jack the Ripper scenarios in the `Yorkshire Ripper' murders. It is clear that Cornell had examined a vast amount of evidence, primary and secondary and these are listed in the back pages. She was assisted over many years of research by a whole team of forensic investigators and in the book, she acknowledged their contributions.

Her `terms of reference' were to consider the extent of Jack the Ripper's unlawful activities. She then considered the motives for these murders. Obviously, she could not interview the killer, so she relied mainly on primary and secondary evidence about Sickert the artist.

I can see her use of Karl Popper's scientific methods. Popper suggested that one should look for instances that confirm or verify one's theories and Patricia Cornwell demonstrated this. She explored unsuccessful avenues as well as those which uphold her theory. She writes (pg 133), "computerised image enhancement detects hundreds of grey shades that the human eye cannot see and makes it possible for a fuzzy photograph or erased writing to become visible or discernible. Whilst forensic image enhancement might work with bank security videos or bad photographs, it does not work on paintings. All our efforts accomplished with Ennui (one of Sickert's paintings) was to separate Sickert's brush strokes until we ended up with the reverse of what he was doing when he put the strokes together."

One is reminded repeatedly in this `Jack the Ripper' case, that forensic science does not and will not ever take the place of human detection, deduction, experience, common sense and very hard work.

Patricia Cornwell's book concentrated on the number of women who were murdered by `Jack the Ripper'. Cornwell also concentrated her book on the conduct of the police investigation, the conduct of the coroners and on the death certificates issued after eachprostitute was murdered. Cornwell concentrated on the fact that social explanations often pinpoint which social group is more vulnerable to a phenomenon than others while psychological explanations identify the social group more likely to be vulnerable than others.

There is much concern and theorising about serial killers nowadays (see Simpson (1980); Leyton (1986); Seltzer, (1998);Grover and Soothill (1999); Soothill ( 2001); Smith, (2002) and Peters (2005).

I could see leanings in the book to Leyton's central thesis of homicidal protest. Leyton's thesis is that that the criminal offence of murder is a form of homicidal protest. Leyton concludes that homicidal killings are committed by frustrated members of the middle classes usually. Leyton said that, occasionally , serial killings contain a metaphor from the earlier era and that serial killers interrupt the lives of prostitutes and runaways because, in the killer's distorted mind, he assumes that these women deserve to be killed as punishment.. Criminologists Kelly and Radford also hypothesised that violence against women is a reflection of a patriarchal society Criminologists Grover and Soothill theorised that when women such as prostitutes are murdered, it is because they are increasingly seen as a socio-economic burden on society. Grover and Soothill's theory concluded that British serial killings reveal that Britain is inadequate in its provision of social and economic protection of the poor and vulnerable. Serial killers prey on the vulnerable and in Britain, the vulnerable are those who cannot compete within the structural conditions of patriarchal capitalism- those who, for various reasons, are unable to retort against those whom this patriarchal capitalism adorn with power.

Finally Patricia Cornwell brings the reader to conclusion that the artist Sickert was the murderer `Jack the Ripper'.

She revealed that DNA results from an anonymous letter to the police from the killer compares well with a letter to someone from Sickert's mother. DNA testing has become an established part of criminal justice procedures, and the admissibility of DNA in court today is routine. This technology is highly sensitive and can generate a reliable DNA profile from a crime scene stain that is as small as the size of a pin head. Both Sickert's written letter, the anonymous letter to the police and Sickert's mother's written letter contain part of the same DNA sequence. DNA evidence is biological evidence. Biological is a type of physical evidence. Biological evidence is not always visible to the naked eye.

DNA analysis is similar to fingerprint analysis in how matches are determined. Evidence collected from a crime scene is compared to a known sample. If each feature is not identical, the DNA evidence is determined NOT to be a match and therefore did NOT come from the suspect. When a crime scene profile does not match any stored profiles, it is possible to undertake further testing to see if it partially matches that of a genetic relative. Familial searches in the UK today can only be conducted with the specific authority of the Custodian of the NDNAD(National DNA Database) and there are legal parameters for use of the NDNAD, these being the prevention and detection of crime; the investigation of an offence; the conduct of a prosecution or the identification of a deceased person. The aim of familial searching is to provide legitimately useful intelligence in solving crime and there are instances in which its use is able to be justified, such as tracing the relatives of an unidentified serial killer.

The weak point of Cornwell's argument of DNA match, though, is this - the chain of custody of evidence is a record of individuals who have had physical possession of the evidence. Documentation is critical to maintaining the integrity of the chain of custody. Maintaining the chain of custody is vital for any type of evidence. In addition, if laboratory analysis reveals that DNA evidence was contaminated, it may be necessary to identify persons who have handled that evidence.

In processing the evidence, the fewer people handling the evidence, the better. There is less chance of contamination and a shorter chain of custody for court admissibility hearings. The Jack the Ripper case is very old and who knows how many people have previously handled the evidence?

Because extremely small samples of DNA can be used as evidence, greater attention to contamination issues is necessary when identifying, collecting and preserving DNA evidence. DNA evidence can be contaminated when DNA from another source gets mixed with DNA relevant to the case. Saliva on the envelopes or the letters was probably tested. Saliva is the fluid that moistens the mouth. It is secreted from three sets of glands. Screening for saliva is based on detection of high levels of amylase in the sample. It is not a confirmatory test as amylase is found in other body fluids.

Saliva contains ABH substances, especially in secretors. Saliva samples (spit or buccal swabs) are often taken as reference materials for determination of secretor status.. Stains can be typed using absorption-elution or absorption-inhibition.

If Cornwell's team had confirmed the DNA match by testing for body fluids on both letters, they would know that DNA typing has become such an effective tool in forensic biology that almost all of the traditional techniques have fallen into disuse but they may have used some old techniques which are still used in the examination of body fluids. Cornwell may have used the technique of serology, the detection, identification, and typing of body tissues, either in native form or as stains or residues left at a crime scene. Most often, the tissue of interest is a body fluid such as blood or semen; however, other tissues such as hair or bone are encountered. The detection and identification process begins with a physical examination, followed by a screening test, and may include confirmatory identification and sample typing.

All in all, Patricia Cornwell's book is a very convincing read. What is interesting is the renewed interest in the artist Walter Sickert. There is to be a London painting exhibition, on 25 October to 20 January, of Walter Sickert's paintings of the Camden Town Nudes. Against contemporary conventions of the idealised nude, Sickert depicted his naked models in the shabby interiors of Camden Town bedsits, investing the images with the disquieting themes of prostitution and poverty associated with this working class area of North London where he lived and worked.

The exhibition in London will bring together around fifteen of the principal canvases from private and public collections and will assemble Sickert's four so-called Camden Town Murder paintings.. Sickert's characteristic method of painting was in the reduced, almost grisaille quality of his tones. Many of his paintings depict the interiors of music- halls & theatres. Previous exhibitions of Sickert's paintings have been held at the Tate in the year 2006, and in the year 2000 at the Fine Arts Society, London. The exhibition in the year 2000 marked the publication of a book titled, Walter Sickert: Prints by Ruth Bromberg. The exhibition showed some of Sickert's finest paintings, drawings, prints & some letters & telegrams from Sickert. The fevered interest in Sickert and his paintings has even inspired an essay competition at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

Patricia Cornwell, as well as her scientific and biological analysis, has, as a criminologist, read all the literature on Sickert, including these texts:

* Whistler, "Cross-examination in the Trial of Ruskin for libel-1878;

* Sickert, "Mr Whistler and His Art" The Artists and Journal of Home Culture, 1st Jan. 1884;

* Sickert "Is the Camera the Friend or the Foe of Art", Spectator Magazine, July 1893;

* Sickert, "All the greater draughtsmen tell a story- A critical calendar", English Review. March 1912

* W. Baron, W. and R. Shone, (ed)., Sickert Paintings, ( Yale University Press, Newhaven & London 1992);

* Q. Bell, "Some Memories of Sickert." Burlington Magazine. Vol. Cxxix, April 1987;

* R. Bromberg, Walter Sickert: Prints, A Catalogue Raisonn. (New Haven, London 2000);

* L. Browse, Sickert, ( Faber and Faber Ltd, London 1943);

* M. Connetti, Walter Sickert and the Camden Town Group,(David & Charles, Italy 1992);

* C.Connolly, "The Degas of Camden Town." Sunday Times. 29 May 1960;

* D. P. Corbett, Walter Sickert, ( Tate Gallery Publishing, London 2001);

* A. Dempsey, "Whistler and Sickert: A Friendship and its End", Apollo. No. 83, Jan. 1966;

* T. W. Earp, "The Work of Walter Richard Sickert" Apollo. No. 11, April 1930

* R. Emmons, The Life and Opinions of Walter Richard Sickert, ( Faber and Faber Ltd, London, 1942);

* M. Hollis, M. (ed.), Late Sickert - Paintings 1927 to 1942, ( Arts Council Publications, London 1981);

* M. Lilly, (ed.) Sickert - The Painter and his Circle, ( Elek, London 1971);

* R. Morphet, "The Modernity of Late Sickert", Studio International. Vol. 140, 1975;

* L. Morris, Walter Richard Sickert - Advice to Young Artists, (Norwich School of Art Gallery, Norwich 1986);

* P.Pelowski, Sickert & Thanet - Paintings and Drawings by W.R. Sickert, (Ramsgate Library Gallery, Ramsgate 1986);

* A. Powell, "The Servant of Abraham", Apollo, No. 95, March 1972;

* R. Pickvance, "The Magic of the Halls and Sickert", Apollo. No. 76, April 1962;

* A.G.Robins, "Degas and Sickert: notes on their friendship", Burlington Magazine. 1988;

* J.Rothenstein, . Sickert, ( Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd., London 1961);

* F.Rutter, "Richard Sickert", Studio. No. 100, Nov. 1930;

* R.Seddon, "The Technical Methods of Walter Richard Sickert", Apollo. No. 38, Dec. 1943;

* R.Shone, Walter Sickert, ( Phaidon, Oxford 1988);

* O.Sitwell (Ed), "A Free House!" - The Writings of Walter Richard Sickert, (MacMillan & Co. Ltd., London 1947);

* A.Stephenson, "Buttressing bohemian mystiques and bandaging masculine Anxieties", Art History. 1994 vol. 17, no.2. June;

* D. Sutton, Walter Sickert, ( Michael Joseph, London 1976);

* L. Tickner, "Walter Sickert: The Camden Town Murder and Tabloid Crime" Modern Life and Modern Subjects - British Art in the Early Twentieth Yale University Press. London, 2000;

* S.Tillyard, "W.R. Sickert and the Defence of Illustrative Painting.", Brian Allen (ed.) Studies in British Art 1 - Towards a Modern Art World. (Yale University Press, London 1995);

* V. Woolf, Walter Sickert: A Conversation, ( Hogarth Press, London 1934);

and

* E.D.H. Johnson, Paintings of the British Social Scene from Hogarth to Sickert. (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London 1986).

QED.

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed.......2007-09-21

I am looking forward to reading this book. I have been looking for this book for quite a while and now I have a chance to read it. I am very interested in the Jack the Ripper case.

A speculative confection of a book that's taken too much abuse ...........2007-08-20

It seems that a lot of people hate either this book, Patricia Cornwall, or both. Fair enough. But some of the reviews I've just been perusing have seemed unjustifiably vicious. Since the late 19th century, people have been speculating--with a great deal of confidence--on the identity of Jack the Ripper. Patricia Cornwall has the professional resume to take her turn, and in her defence, I believe she makes a very strong case for her conclusions.

I cannot believe the nastiness of some of these other reviews--particularly the ones calling her names that have no business in a public forum. Really, it's probably the first time I've ever actually felt sorry for a wildly successful writer.

Cornwall's a novelist, and her writing of nonfiction is enlivened by the prose that's made her successful in her established medium. This is no dreary textbook; quite a lot of it is narrative, following her tracks as she researches the White Chapel murders. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Does this mean she knows better than Scotland Yard? Probably not--but, then again ...

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire novel: "Teeth: A Horror Fantasy.)

IMPOTENT FURY! .......2007-07-22

"I knew the identity of a murderer and couldn't possibly avert my gaze" so states Cornwell. Give me a break. Enough people have spent their time defending Sickert now, so I won't take up the space. Though he could be a suspect... The Jack the Ripper cases will most likely never be solved. Some people kinda' want it that way.

This is a good book for its documentation of the killings. Its also good for its in depth, yet ungrounded Sickert accusations; such as him having had a fistula. Pure speculation. I don't know if that would really be enough to drive a man to mutilate... but it doubtlessly would drive a person mad with "impotent fury"! And other phrases that will leave you giggling.

Did we read the same book? Lots of evidence!.......2007-07-09

In response to the other reviewers who complain about a lack of Cornwell's forensic evidence and "knowledge" of the suspect, Sickert's, actions: did we both read the same book?: The part where she discussed the manufacture and form of Sickert's vs. Jack's paper upon which the Ripper's letters were written? (matching watermarks, sheets ripped in half along matching lines, Ripper letters on Sickert's wife's stationery, etc. . )? The fact that Sickert paintings hauntingly and very convincingly match unpublishable photographs of crime scenes (shown side by side)? Matching up Sickert's travels on the Continent with gaps in Ripper activity in England, and prostitute butchers in France and other Sickert retreat locations? And, almost as telling as the paper stock matches (which are correspondence existing in modern day, which Cornwell subjected to in-person examination and forensic testing), the fact that The Ripper's letters contained illustrations almost exactly matching in ink and skill quality as that of Sickert, a published artist?

Forensic evidence abounds, and is convincingly argued and presented. LOOK at the photographic comparisons. Judge for yourself.. .I did, and I was convinced. (And condemning a book based on self-admittedly accepted name spelling variations, when original records are handwritten? Criticizing Cornwell for criticizing Victorian authorities' dismissive investigations of the murders of homeless prostitutes? These only bolster Cornwell's investigations, rather than doom them.)

I've recommended this book to historically inquiring minds who like to see for themselves, and I recommend it to you as well.

Jack London : Novels and Stories : Call of the Wild / White Fang / The Sea-Wolf / Klondike and Other Stories (Library of America)

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An American Master...
Amazing on multiple levels!
Call of the Wild
Reality or Fantasy... Which one is it?
THE GREATES

Jack London : Novels and Stories : Call of the Wild / White Fang / The Sea-Wolf / Klondike and Other Stories (Library of America)
Jack London
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0940450054

Book Description

Thrilling action, an intuitive feeling for animal life, a sense of justice that often works itself out through violence: these are the qualities that made Jack London phenomenally popular in his own day and continue to make him, at home and abroad, one of the most widely read of all American writers. "The Call of the Wild," perhaps the best novel ever written about animals, traces a dog's education for survival in the ways of the wolfpack. "White Fang," in which a wolf-dog becomes domesticated out of love for a man, is an unforgettable portrayal of a world of "hunting and being hunted, eating and being eaten, all in blindness and confusion." In "The Sea-Wolf," the primitive takes human form in the ruthless, indomitable Wolf Larsen, captain of a crew of outcasts on the lawless Alaskan seas. Set in the Klondike, California, Mexico, and the South Seas, the short stories collected here--many for the first time--show London as one of the great American storytellers.

Customer Reviews:

An American Master..........2007-06-07

You can't lump too many people into the same sphere with London...Twain, Poe, and Lovecraft are a few that spring to mind. He's an American Titan, and he gets the fawning treatment you'd expect from the Library of America in this exemplary, extraordinary, green-registered book.

Call of the Wild is a page-turning yarn about a dog that becomes a wolf. It's listed on the MLA 100, but any competent kid of ten could tackle it...and enjoy it.

White Fang is a canine bildungsroman that inverts the plot of Call of the Wild, with the wolf becoming a dog. Also a page-turner, also something a kid would read without having to be coerced, and possessed of a truly classic scene where White Fang fights a bulldog.

The Klondike Short Stories are all superb--some people think London's metier was the short story rather than the novel--with Batard being a personal favorite.

The Sea-Wolf is a work of genius...until it all comes crashing down with the introduction of Maud Brewster, and the escape to Endeavour Island. What had heretofore been a truly transcendent work of art transmogrifies into a clunky, melodramatic, and tedious chore, where London's love of sailing jargon threatens to overwhelm the reader.

The Selected Short Stories show that London wasn't just a Yukon guy...he had some other arrows in his quiver. A few stories demonstrate his--at the time--devout socialism, which lasted up until he himself got rich. The Apostate is the weakest of these, but The Strength of the Strong is a pretty good allegory for fin-de-siecle capitalism, with all its gory excesses. London also writes convincingly about such diverse topics as boxing, South Sea cannibals, and straight-up science fiction.

This book of books is excellent, and any American who fancies himself a lover of literature would be remiss in not reading it.

Amazing on multiple levels!.......2007-02-24

Novels and Stories was the first of a two volume set that I scored for cheap on ebay a few years ago. The second, Novels and Social writings concentrates on his political/social novels and essays while this one is comprised of his Alaskan and sea bearing adventure stories.

This book weighs in at over 1000 pages and includes three GREAT novels in Call of the Wild, The Sea Wolf and White Fang as well as multitudes of his short stories.

I can't say enough about how much I love Londons writings and how much admiration I have for him as a man as well. I've read Call of the Wild about every two years or so since the first time I read it as a child and I get more out of it every time I re-read it. His adventure stories on one level are just great red blooded adventure stories that anyone who has any heart or spirit would enjoy and there is a deeper level to London as well. His stories are highly spiritual if you are able to look at them on another level. Although thats something that you have to "feel" from within I suppose.

Call of the Wild.......2005-05-17

This book was really good, but I believe that White Fang was better. Many settings took place, but I will start with the main ones. The first setting in this book was Judge Millers Mansion. The second is the dog breakers place, in which Buck (the main character, a dog,) learns the "law of Club and Fang." The third place is where Buck learns the method of husky fighting, and because the other dog died, he lived a long and well-lived life. The first major event in this book is when a person steals Buck from Judge Miller, and he is starved and strangled and is thrown in a shed to wait for a train to the dog breaker. There, he is introduced to the primitive law of club and fang. After that, he, and a Newfoundland, are taken to Alaska. There, he is introduced to the method of Husky Fighting, and then is put into the harness, and is put to work on the mushing sled. The next major event is when Buck is taken of his first mushing trip in the wild. There he learns how to keep warm in the harsh winters by digging into the snow and having your body heat heat up the space. The next area is when Buck and Spitz finally fight to the death, and Buck takes the position of lead dog on the mushing track. Finally, the last major setting is when Buck finaly turns to the wild, and he attacks the YeeHats with a vengance, because they had killed his LOVED master. The conflict in this book is Buck is a spoilled rotten dog, until he reaches the North and finds that he has wild ancestors. They eventually take over Buck and he lives with the wild.

Reality or Fantasy... Which one is it?.......2003-05-18

After reading this book for school, (not that I was forced to) I gave it a 4/5 star rating. It was excellent when it came to the setting of the story. Even though it is a very short, it crams alot of suspensfull and interesting moments into 100 some odd pages. This book is quite good and page turning. I highly recommend it to readers who like a mix of reality and fantasy in one. Masterful piece of writing.

THE GREATES.......2002-09-17

Jack London was one of the greatest American writers. I love everything he wrote and I wish I could write as well as he did.

The Call of the Wild (Unabridged Classics)

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The not-so secret life of dogs
Buck realizes his potential

The Call of the Wild (Unabridged Classics)
Jack London
Manufacturer: Tantor Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1400100941

Book Description

Buck lives a content life. Half St. Bernard, half Shepard, he is top dog on a California ranch. But the Gold Rush in the Klondike has produced an enormous demand for sled dogs so, when a Gardner at the ranch needs to pay a gambling debt, stealing and selling Buck is a quick way to do it.
Having never been mistreated, Buck soon learns that man can be the cruelest animal. He is whipped, beaten and caged, but never broken. Confronted by the law of survival, Buck learns to fight, steal and pull a sled. He takes pride in his new strength and ferocity. Buck manages to escape this life of abuse and learns to love a new master more than his own life. He gradually discovers the skills of his forbears and finds his home in the primordial forest - eventually Buck cannot resist the call of the wild.
This classic book brings out the true spirit of the Gold Rush days at the turn of the last century. It portrays the brutality, kindness, love, and folly that Jack London experienced first hand during his time in the far north. It was his first successful book, and catapulted him to literary fame.

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The not-so secret life of dogs.......2005-12-17

This is a powerful tale that presents the psychology of a dog's mind, as transparent to the reader. The influence of London's writing style is seen in countless modern novels, and has the ability to transport you emotionally to the cold desolate artic. It's a dog lovers story, without the sappiness of such tales told in the more contemporary voice. His conclusions, are rational, and any one who loves animals should hear them...dogs are dogs...and that's OK.

Buck realizes his potential.......2005-01-31

Gold was found in Alaska, the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the states. The environment bread harsh attitudes. Also in the testing of ones mettle one finds their true potential.

Buck (a dog that is half St Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations finally realizing his potential. On the way he learns many concepts from surprise, to deceit, and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he is growing he feels the call of the wild.

This book is well written. There is not a wasted word or thought and the story while building on its self has purpose and direction. The descriptions may be a tad graphic for the squeamish and a tad sentimental for the romantic. You see the world through Buck's eyes and understand it through his perspective until you also feel the call of the wild.

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Only the best book of all time [IMO]
Free SF Reader
White Fang
white fang
Book vs. Movie

White Fang (Scholastic Classics)
Jack London
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439236193

Book Description

With an introduction from award winning K.A. Applegate, White Fang is one of London's classic tales of survival and one of his most popular stories. White Fang is part dog, part wolf, and the lone survivor of his family. In his lonely world, he soon learns to follow the law of the North--kill or be killed.

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In the desolate, frozen wilds of northwest Canada, a wolf cub soon finds himself the sole survivor of his litter. Son of Kiche -- half-wolf, half-dog -- and the ageing wolf One Eye, he is thrust into a savage world where each day becomes a fight to stay alive.

Customer Reviews:

Only the best book of all time [IMO].......2007-09-04

I picked up this book in the 6th grade for an English class assignment. I didn't even finish it the first time I tried to go through it. I was bored with it as I usually am with books I am made to read. However, a year or two later I was back at the challenge. I feel guilty about leaving books unfinished, and since wolves are by far my favorite animal I needed to give this book another shot. Since then I've read this book about 6 times and can tell you all about the events and characters, the struggles, and the ending. It's become my favorite book with no close rivals, as Jack London has become my favorite author. It's excellently written, descriptive, with a wonderful story of the hardships and trials of one wolf-dog's life in the far North.

Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

White Fang is a pup born a hybrid, part wolf and part dog. The other dogs, therefore, are not big fans of his. He ends up a tough super-dog as a result, and as such, attracts the attention of dog fighters, and keeps winning until he is rescused from a fight.

He ends up helping out his new owners, and getting to relax and enjoy his golden years.

White Fang.......2007-08-28

I read about half this book put it down and didn't want to finish it so I didn't. It is the most boring book in the world.

white fang.......2007-08-25

what a great story..............it has held up for 100 years.............it is as fresh as today!

Book vs. Movie.......2007-07-28

My eldest son read this for school last year, and we decided to check out the movie. After watching the movie, he couldn't remember what parts were accurate or less than so, and I wondered. So I read (re-read, if you want to count my first read x decades ago) it last night.

The book and the movie, I decided, barely know each other. They may have met in a bar one night, somewhere in the Yukon, and shared a drink or two. The movie is a fun, upbeat adventure story. The book talks a lot about gods, and how mankind are gods to the dogs. It's an old book, two years younger than the boat I'll be eating dinner on tomorrow night, and it most certainly carries many of the prejudices of the time.

But that is what it should do - it was not written for today, and it should not be sanitized, nor should some of those attitudes be idolized. Figuring out which parts can be learned from, and, more importantly, how they should be learned from, is the key.

The Call Of The Wild (Scholastic Classics)

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Calling all dog lovers!
Free SF Reader
The Call of the Wild
Its a dog's life.
The Best American Novel.

The Call Of The Wild (Scholastic Classics)
Jack London
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439227143

Book Description

Stolen from his family, a dog named Buck must quickly learn the harsh law of survival among the men and dogs of the goldcrazed North. With an introduction by award-winning author, Avi.

Customer Reviews:

Calling all dog lovers!.......2007-09-26

A must read for dog lovers, young and old. A wonderful story of drive, determination, transformation and love. Beautifully told. It stands the test of time, a true classic.

Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Buck is a big beefy cross dog living a happy life. A dognapper gets him, and sells him into a life of work and sled pulling. The dog endures a bunch of harsh treatment until he finds an owner who really likes him and treats him well.

That ends badly, and the dog follows his violent and atavasitic instincts in the end.

The Call of the Wild.......2007-04-18

The Call Of The Wild
The Call Of The Wild was one of the most positive experiences from a book. It started out a little boring, but eventually became more interesting.
The characters were so believable that it felt like you could be in their shoes, from every pat on the head or scratch on the belly, to every beating or fight. My favorite character was John Thorton because he protected and cared for Buck. Jack London did a fantastic job of creating all of the characters. Jack London had a way of making you want to read the book over and over again. He had so much action that it held you close. One of my favorite scenes was when John Thorton belted Hal for whipping and bashing Buck with a club, because he didn't have enough strength to pull the sled. A nether favorite scene was when the Yehat Indians attacked John' campsite and killed everyone while Buck was out hunting. When Buck came back he slashed the throats of the Indians.
I might have possibly changed a few parts where animals have died, but then it wouldn't be a true story. I would definitely recommend this book, because it has many emotions throughout the whole novel.
By Crystal Chapman

Its a dog's life........2007-02-20

Jack London's style is very captivating. I finished it in one sitting, as it is pretty short novel and too gripping. There are least two strong messages in this magnificent story, adaptation is probably the greatest asset to lead and also we have a propensity to give in to our ancient savage instinct. If you are strong like Buck, the central character, no matter where, you will lead and leave your legacy. Also the dark side of the story is our real calling; though we have been evolved (genetically or socially or both--have it your way) to be civilized, we still hear the call of the wild from our ancient fathers. Why four stars not five? The lives of Native Americans (Yeehats--though a fictional tribe) does reflect much regard, may be because it was written a hundred years ago. I really do not suggest Jack London was racist, the scene seemed little unfairly graphic. Read the book by all means.

The Best American Novel........2006-08-13

I love this dogs spirit. Two primary themes are present. A dogs struggle for survival, and man's yearning for adventure. This is an adventure story about the transformation of one of mans best freinds. Buck is a gritty and dignified dog. He led a lavish life at judge Miller's estate in the Santa Clara valley California. Then one day he is kidnapped for money and sold to traders as a sled dog, during the gold rush. He endures men's cruelty and fights for his life with other dogs. He eventually slays the lead dog and takes his place. Chapters 5-7 are worth reading several times. In 5, a civilized miner John Thornton saves Buck and their relationship grows. Chapter 7 I won't reveal. Just read this book, I promise you will love it.

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Classic book for kids
If You Like Animals This Is The Book For You
super duper
call of the wild
A Great, Non-Stop Action Book!

The Call of the Wild (Aladdin Classics)
Jack London
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689856741

Book Description

First published in 1903, The Call of the Wild is regarded as Jack London's masterpiece. Based on London's experiences as a gold prospector in the Canadian wilderness and his ideas about nature and the struggle for existence, The Call of the Wild is a tale about unbreakable spirit and the fight for survival in the frozen Alaskan Klondike.

Customer Reviews:

Classic book for kids.......2007-10-06

The story of the dog named Buck who is stolen from his owner's estate, sold into dog slavery as a sled dog in Alaska, and ultimately returns to his wild roots by joining a wolf pack. This is a classic tale that will appeal to boys of every age and a few dog loving girls. When you get tired of Harry Potter, pick this up. You won't regret it, then checkout White Fang which is also by Jack London.

If You Like Animals This Is The Book For You.......2007-03-06

This book is about a dog named Buck. He travels around the world with different musher's all trying to get to a gold mine on a land. Which people never come back once they go. This book is very good because they didn't talk during most of the book.

This book explained what happened when they were mushing and how they felt when they didn't get their way when they were done mushing. For me there wasn't enough action going around in the story. There were only certain parts in the story that were interesting. Like when Buck killed Indians because they killed his owner.

Another time was when Buck and a sleigh dog were forced to fight. Then in parts of the book I didn't understand some of the words. To me the author explained everything good enough to understand. This would be a good book for any body.

super duper.......2006-12-22

This book was mind envigorting and scintytilating. I enjoyed it much and I would would suggest this book for people who like nature and are looking for a good read. It was super duper.

call of the wild.......2006-12-22

Jack London has a very sophisticated style of writing. But the book is relatively predictable. the plot pulls you in and the book is hard to put down. Some of my favorites scenes are when Buck goes back to his primal instincts and sees the ape-man by the fire. The only negative feedback i have on this book is that Jack London is sort of racist agains Indians, the Yeehats are portrayed as the bad indians that killed everyone and then danced. But overall all i have is praise for the call of the wild.

A Great, Non-Stop Action Book!.......2006-12-15

In this book, The Call of the Wild, there is non-stop action keeping the reader always want to continue. This book is filled with action, adventure, terror, and drama. It is taken place in 1903 in the state of California and in Alaska in the region of Klondike. Jack London puts you in the mind of a dog which makes this book different and more unique than many others. This dog is the main character and his name is Buck. He is half St. Bernard and half Scottish sheperd. In the beginning of the book, Buck lives with a judge and his children in his California home. Buck is a good-natured dog who loves to be around people. One day, Buck is kidnapped and shipped to Alaska where he is trained as a sled dog. He has two masters who he has faith in. Their names are Francois and Perrault. They are both French Canadians and know the land very well but, Buck realizes the many troubles in the Alaska and meets his main enemy, Spitz. Spitz is a vicious and brute tempered dog. Buck first despises Spitz when he and a pack of wolves killed a well-mannered dog, but is weak so Spitz decided to kill him. Buck never forgets the gruesome moments of this. In the middle of the book, Francois and Perrault disappear and Buck has two new leaders of the slay. They are Hal and Charles. Another member of there crew is Mercedes who's is Charles wife and Hal's sister. Buck has absolutely no faith in them by their actions. Buck grows hungry and looses his temper. Buck and Spitz have a malicious dogfight. How will fight for the rest of their life? This book is one of the best books I have read because of how well Jack London puts you in the head of a dog and puts you through a torturous time. Read The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

David LA7

Greek Gold: Jewelry of the Classical World

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Greek Gold

Greek Gold: Jewelry of the Classical World
Dyfri Williams , Jack Ogden , and N. Y.) Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York
Manufacturer: Harry N Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810933888

Customer Reviews:

Greek Gold.......2000-11-28

This book is great. It shows detailed photographs of many pieces, and the text describes the methods of construction. There is a section showing the tools they used to manufacture the jewelry, and the way the tools were used.

Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard Investigates

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An important new title from two undisputed experts on Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard Investigates
Stewart P. Evans , and Donald Rumbelow
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0750942282

Book Description

The horrific story of Jack the Ripper, the notorious serial killer who butchered prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London in 1888, has remained in our collective consciousness as an unspeakable example of human depravity. This famously unsolved case is now part and parcel of global popular culture with countless books and films of ripperology proposing theory and counter theory as to the real identity of Jack.

Customer Reviews:

An important new title from two undisputed experts on Jack the Ripper.......2007-05-21

Authors Stewart P. Evans and Donald Rumbelow are not only two of the most well-respected authors in the field of Ripper studies (with such titles as The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, Jack the Ripper: Letters from Hell and The Complete Jack the Ripper), they are also two former London police officers who are directly responsible for finding and preserving important documents about this case for posterity. Put the two of them together and you can expect a book just full of great information, much of it brand new and fully documented with footnotes. On top of that, this is also easily the Ripper title with the most illustrations, many of them never before seen in any other modern publication. This book is simply required reading for anyone with a serious interest in the Jack the Ripper case.

The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics)

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A Classic book review
Great stories with a few odd elements
White Fang
The strong and whole hearted dog
Really thrilling, but not quite a five

The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics)
Jack London
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0192835149

Book Description

Of all Jack London's fictions none have been so popular as his dog stories. In addition to The Call of the Wild, the epic tale of a Californian dog's adventures during the Klondike gold rush, this edition includes White Fang, and five famous short stories - `Batard', `Moon-Face', `Brown Wolf', `That Spot', and `To Build a Fire.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic book review.......2006-01-11

In the book, The Call of the Wild and other stories, a dog name Buck is forced to leave his home in Santa Clara Valley, California after he is sold to two men that are going up north for the gold rush. They are headed to the region of Klondike Canada and once they get there Buck soon realizes that it is a very uncivilized place compared to his home. Buck competes with the rest of the sled dogs for head dog and it becomes a very violent contest in which Buck wins. After a while, Buck and the rest of the sled dogs become very weak after the long and treacherous journey. Buck is sold to an experienced gold hunter named John Thornton and they build a great relationship. After John Thornton dies Buck is forced to survive on his own and it is truly a Call of the Wild.

I enjoyed the book Call of the Wild because it was a great adventure story and a story that I think people of all ages would enjoy. I also liked how the author Jack London depicted the relationship between dog and man. He described how Buck felt towards all of his owners and how he learned that humans were only superior to him if they had one thing, a weapon. London went into more detail about Buck and John Thornton's relationship by describing how they were the best of friends. He showed that Buck was so obedient towards John that he would jump off a cliff if he were told to do so.

London did a great job of using imagery to enhance the book. I believe the plot of the book itself is what makes it a classic but the imagery and diction London chooses to use makes it just more interesting than it already is. I really think people of all ages would enjoy reading this book and even if you aren't into the wilderness type of book I think you will still enjoy the story.

Great stories with a few odd elements.......2005-05-10

I'm reviewing a shorter compilation of Jack London stories not currently available on Amazon, but all of the stories are also in this book.

I bought the book to revisit the "cold weather stories" such as Call of the Wild and To Build a Fire while holed up last winter in my snowy mountain redoubt. I enjoyed the cold adventures and descriptions of living and working outdoors in subzero weather before the era of goose down, Thinsulate, Gore-Tex and nylon. I was not too surprised to learn my recollection of these stories that I first encountered forty-odd years ago was not particularly accurate (not unlike other distant memories I investigate) and I enjoyed reading them.

Having said that, a lot of these stories are downright DEPRESSING...London was a well regarded writer and commercial success in his short lifetime. But he was apparently a tormented person, driven to alcohol and suicide by age 40. His dark view of human nature and the need for and desirability of radical socialist revolution is a theme of several stories. One of them, The Dream of Debs, fantasizes about a bazaar socialist rebellion in San Francisco. The "working class" secretly colludes to hide away food for themselves and then calls a general strike that brings the "ruling class" to its knees by imminent starvation. The result is that everyone gets their pre-strike jobs back with greatly improved income and working conditions for all the strikers. It never occurs to London, apparently a "true believer", that some of the "rulers" might not reopen their businesses as they would lose money or that they would cover their increased costs by raising prices to the workers' detriment as consumers. Oddly, London could not fathom that his story's affluent protagonist would do anything after the strike except rehire his house full of domestic servants at much increased wages, even welcoming back those who stole his food and abandoned him to battle starvation. Weird...

Nevertheless, these stories are well written with vivid, pithy language, colorful descriptions and surprising plot twists. They are excellent reading for would-be writers of all ages and, at least regarding the "traditional" stories, are excellent tales of heroic adventure in the frigid late-19th century north country.

White Fang .......2005-03-10

I once read this book when I was around 11 years old. Back then I pretty much got all of the details of the book. I again read White Fang this summer. White fang is about a fearsome wolf named Buck. Buck always stood above all of the dogs. He led his team of fellow wolfs on a race over 2,000 miles long. In the book Buck proves his strength and his courage time and time again. I must give a warning to the younger readers out there that there are some violent dog fights that Buck gets into so if you are not into the whole fighting scene you might just want to skip those parts. If you like a classic book with action and adventure than White Fang is the book for you.

The strong and whole hearted dog.......2002-11-12

The cold Alaskan air could burn anybody's skin and heart, but not this wolf named Buck. He showed he had heart in everything that he did. One of the many things Buck did during his three thousand miles was earning ownership from all the dogs on the team and from all of the men and women who owned him. He showed courage by pulling twenty five-pound sacks of flour for one hundred yards all by himself. This book is a good one to read if you love adventure, excitement and danger. I would recommend this book to anybody, but mostly the younger children because of its many fun adventures.

Really thrilling, but not quite a five.......2002-10-17

This review is by a family of three kids. Our mom read this book aloud to us. Here are our opinions:
Anne (12): I think this was a really moving book, but some of the writer's opinions, I didn't quite agree with. Jack London says that we are shaped by our society, but I believe that we can change ourselves, because we have free will.
Michelle (11): It was a great book, but I didn't like the middle portion, because White Fang was all hatred, killing all the dogs he met.
John (9): The best part was when White Fang was sitting at the shore as boats came up, waiting to kill all the dogs. I think White Fang was good and bad. He would be a good guard dog. But he was bad because he tried to kill. He never let any dog retreat to save themselves.
Mom: This was really a good book, but I recommend it as a read aloud. The reading level is way above my kids heads, but they understood it in context as a read aloud. There are some very ferocious parts that I skipped as I read, because I thought them too graphic. But the book did inspire us to discuss the idea that we are shaped by our surroundings, and that we have free will to make our way. But also, we shape other's lives by our own choices -- so we are responsible before God to others.

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