Superb, Revealing, Three Page Typed Letter, Signed by Jack London,
for sale on Abebooks, for a mere $15,000.
I have just begun reading Jack London and am fascinated. Read a biography called Sailor on Horseback and could not put it down. This is an excerpt from this letter that is for sale on Abebooks. I found it very interesting- enjoy!
On March 19, 1900, Maitland LeRoy Osborne of Boston's National Magazine wrote to London proposing to review his soon to be published first book, The Son of the Wolf, and requesting information. Printing of the book did not begin until March 27, and it was not published until sometime in mid or late April. London replies on March 24, 1900, ".Find herewith a couple of clippings which may be of use to you; also, I shall supplement them where I imagine it to be essential.I was born in San Francisco and am a Californian by birth as well as residence.I lived on Californian ranches until my tenth year when my family removed to Oakland.By fits and starts I acquired a grammar school education, but rough life always called to me, my whole ancestry was nomadic (its destiny apparently to multiply and spread over the earth), so at fifteen I, too, struck out into the world. I did not run away. My people knew the strain in my blood, so I went with consent. I first went faring amongst the scum marine population of San Francisco Bay, where I got down close to the naked facts of life. It was a most adventurous experience, and one (like all the rest), which I have never regretted.I there learned the rudiments of seamanship.til, the month I was seventeen, I was fitted to ship before the mast as an able seaman. Went to Japan, seal-hunting on the Russian side of the Bering Sea, etc. It was the longest voyage I ever took (seven months); life was to [sic] short to admit of more.When I was turned eighteen, having taken an interest in economics and sociology, I went tramping (to the manor born).Since then have continued those studies, but in a more conventional and theoretical way.I dabbled at high school, took a brief fling at the State University.and hurried away with the first rush into the Klondike. Having mined and camped through the Sierras and other places.Never having been unwise enough to learn a trade, I have worked at all sorts of hard labor.When in the Klondike my father died, and I returned to take charge of the family.I resolved to make the fight of my life by making my living wit with my pen. This was precarious, for my assets were nil and my liabilities legion. I was also a beginner, knew nothing of markets, methods of editors, needs, or how to furnish those needs. My literary life is thus about fourteen months old, during which time I have striven to find myself, from the writings of triolets to blank verse.to really ambitious short stories.I have turned out a vast deal of hack work. And little ambitious work. Nor have I yet been so financially situated that I could try anything long.The 'Son of the Wolf', as you will discover, is a collection of short stories. These were written to supply a pressing need for cash.and submitted successfully to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co."
