This is one of those required reads for high school students. A classic!
FIERCE. FEARED.
White Fang is part dog and part wolf--and the only one of five tiny cubs to survive. In his lonely world, he soon learns to follow the harsh law of the North--kill or be killed.
But nothing in White Fangs' life can prepare him for the cruel owner who buys him and turns him into a vicious killer--a pit dog forced to fight for money.
Will White Fang ever know the kindness of a gentle master or will he die a fierce killer?
White Fang is part dog and part wolf--and the only one of five tiny cubs to survive. In his lonely world, he soon learns to follow the harsh law of the North--kill or be killed.
But nothing in White Fangs' life can prepare him for the cruel owner who buys him and turns him into a vicious killer--a pit dog forced to fight for money.
Will White Fang ever know the kindness of a gentle master or will he die a fierce killer?
White Fang is part dog, part wolf - and the only one of five tiny cubs to survive. In his lonely world, he soon learns to follow the harsh law of the North - kill or be killed.
But nothing in White Fang's life can prepare him for the cruel owner who buys him and turns him into a vicious killer - a pit dog forced to fight for money.
Will White Fang know the kindness of a gentle master or will he die a fierce killer?
But nothing in White Fang's life can prepare him for the cruel owner who buys him and turns him into a vicious killer - a pit dog forced to fight for money.
Will White Fang know the kindness of a gentle master or will he die a fierce killer?
I never got that Jack London's works were billed as children's or adolescent literature, simply because they're about animals, because as a general rule, they're absolutely brutal, to the degree that I worry about the dude. I get that he's writing about a brutal time on the Yukon frontier, where men were harsh and nature harsher, but, good lord, I hope he didn't see the stuff he writes about on a daily basis, let alone participate in it.
This short novel is something of a companion to his other well-known work, The Call of the Wild, but in reverse: here, a wild wolf-dog is brutalized beyond imagining, seemingly from birth, but, still becomes (something) of a domesticated pet, loyal to his master, when he learns the true lesson of love. The end is kind of far-fetched to me; the ending to The Call of the Wild seems more genuine. I think London was trying too hard in this one, to be honest, almost like he had to outdo himself to surpass the last brutal story he wrote.
The book is written largely from the perspective of the wolf-dog, albeit one with very human characteristics. It's really something of a tale of horror, particularly the opening scenes where two men and their six-pack of sled dogs are hunted by a starving pack of 40-plus wild wolves. The unfortunate prey are picked off by the predators one by one, when they find themselves in the "land sharks'" waters and are failed by their one technology that gives them dominion over nature: fire. The rest of the story is kind of a non sequitur, and I'm not sure how the initial scenes fit into the overall narrative of the story, other than to reveal the origins of Kitche, White Fang's semi-domesticated mother, who, in the opening scenes, seemingly turns on her creators, who eventually retake her, and her cub, too. Is this something of revenge in reverse? Dude got issues.
The book still has some merits: the descriptions of the harsh world the cub is born into, and his relations with his masters, as he is bounced like a rubber ball from one exploitative owner to the next, all the while being treated like a piece of meat, are probably pretty close to accurate, but the almost orgiastic descriptions of all the abuse really get to me. London has some serious power issues, and almost exercises cruelty vicariously through his characters, almost like he longs to engage in this behavior himself but just doesn't have the sand. The torture of both animals and man isn't really written from a critical perspective, let alone as condemnation, but it's just really over the top in this one. Didn't enjoy it nearly as much as The Call of the Wild, but I haven't read it in a while, and wanted to finish off the box of old school books I came across. Looking forward much more to reading some of the other ones. I wasn't crazy about this book when I read it as a kid, and my overall impression of it hasn't improved.
This short novel is something of a companion to his other well-known work, The Call of the Wild, but in reverse: here, a wild wolf-dog is brutalized beyond imagining, seemingly from birth, but, still becomes (something) of a domesticated pet, loyal to his master, when he learns the true lesson of love. The end is kind of far-fetched to me; the ending to The Call of the Wild seems more genuine. I think London was trying too hard in this one, to be honest, almost like he had to outdo himself to surpass the last brutal story he wrote.
The book is written largely from the perspective of the wolf-dog, albeit one with very human characteristics. It's really something of a tale of horror, particularly the opening scenes where two men and their six-pack of sled dogs are hunted by a starving pack of 40-plus wild wolves. The unfortunate prey are picked off by the predators one by one, when they find themselves in the "land sharks'" waters and are failed by their one technology that gives them dominion over nature: fire. The rest of the story is kind of a non sequitur, and I'm not sure how the initial scenes fit into the overall narrative of the story, other than to reveal the origins of Kitche, White Fang's semi-domesticated mother, who, in the opening scenes, seemingly turns on her creators, who eventually retake her, and her cub, too. Is this something of revenge in reverse? Dude got issues.
The book still has some merits: the descriptions of the harsh world the cub is born into, and his relations with his masters, as he is bounced like a rubber ball from one exploitative owner to the next, all the while being treated like a piece of meat, are probably pretty close to accurate, but the almost orgiastic descriptions of all the abuse really get to me. London has some serious power issues, and almost exercises cruelty vicariously through his characters, almost like he longs to engage in this behavior himself but just doesn't have the sand. The torture of both animals and man isn't really written from a critical perspective, let alone as condemnation, but it's just really over the top in this one. Didn't enjoy it nearly as much as The Call of the Wild, but I haven't read it in a while, and wanted to finish off the box of old school books I came across. Looking forward much more to reading some of the other ones. I wasn't crazy about this book when I read it as a kid, and my overall impression of it hasn't improved.
White Fang...feared by everyone, loved by no one...an apple classic
What a classic! Perfect for the pre-teen to teenage child, and even adults will love this wilderness classic.
I struggled through this book in middle school, but loved it when I reread it as an adult. It made me wonder whether criminals are formed by nature or nurture after watching White Fang's reactions to occurances throughout his life.
Born in the wild to a half-wolf mother and wolf father, White Fang grows up wary and smart. "Eaten or be eaten" is the code of the north woods, and that's all he knows. When food becomes scarce, White Fang is forced to befriend some humans to survive. Some people cruelly foster the ferocity of his wild ancestors while others exploit him for their selfish gain. Finally, White Fang is rescued by a California man and his family and he is treated kindly and lovingly. But can the wilderness and violence that is his nature be tamed with warmth, love, and affection? Or will he be true to his ancestors and answer the call of the wild?
Jack London's beloved classic
Slowly and cautiously Scott approaches White Fang. He knows that the wolf-dog has been mistreated by human hands, and he is careful not to arouse the animal's anger. At first, Scott's attempts to reach White Fang are met with snarls and growls. But in time, he allows Scott to come close and even pat him. And so the wild and savage wolf-dog learns the meaning of affection...
Slowly and cautiously Scott approaches White Fang. He knows that the wolf-dog has been mistreated by human hands, and he is careful not to arouse the animal's anger. At first, Scott's attempts to reach White Fang are met with snarls and growls. But in time, he allows Scott to come close and even pat him. And so the wild and savage wolf-dog learns the meaning of affection...
The Savagery of the Wild
He was three quarters wolf and all fury. Born in a cave, in famine, in the frozen arctic. Born in a world where the weak died without mercy, where only the swift, the strong, the cunning saw each dawn. It was White Fangs world--- until he and his mother were captured by the man-gods.
The Cruelty of Man
But men and their dogs taught White Fang to hate. He was beaten, abused, attacked. He was bought, sold, torture, trained to kill in blood sports. Knowing no kindness, he became a mad, lethal creature of pure rage.
The Power of One
Only one man saw White Fangs intelligence and nobility. Only one had courage to offer the killer a new life. But can a wolf understand the word hope? Can a creature of hatred understand the word love?
He was three quarters wolf and all fury. Born in a cave, in famine, in the frozen arctic. Born in a world where the weak died without mercy, where only the swift, the strong, the cunning saw each dawn. It was White Fangs world--- until he and his mother were captured by the man-gods.
The Cruelty of Man
But men and their dogs taught White Fang to hate. He was beaten, abused, attacked. He was bought, sold, torture, trained to kill in blood sports. Knowing no kindness, he became a mad, lethal creature of pure rage.
The Power of One
Only one man saw White Fangs intelligence and nobility. Only one had courage to offer the killer a new life. But can a wolf understand the word hope? Can a creature of hatred understand the word love?
One of my favorite books from childhood.
Fast moving you want to finish in a day.
One of London's great novels...
Great Classic book
this is the story of a wolf-dog that has been mistreated by humans. He eventually trusts again.
My eight year old daughter read it, and really enjoyed it.
