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JACK LONDON: THE INTERSECTION OF LIFE AND FICTION

Jack London A Life by Alex Kershaw, HarperCollins 1997.

PHOTO_OF_JACK_LONDON This new biography of Jack London uses docudrama technique to bring to life the history of America's most famous popular writer. But perhaps that should be larger than life, for London's career was every bit as adventurous as his works of fiction.

Alex Kershaw may be right in attributing London's central motivation to a feeling of insecurity, cloaked by machismo only to be betrayed by alcoholism, but London's experiences as oyster pirate, tramp, gaolbird, prospector, oceanic yachtsman, war correspondent and revolutionary agitator raise him to heroic stature by any standard.

Although a committed Socialist, London "was aware that mankind's terror has always been its most basic emotion...it has far deeper roots than love, tracing back to the days before history, when man was just another wild, frightened savage." (Pg 125).

This view of life coincided with London's enthusiasm for Nietzsche's Superman and the social-darwinism of Herbert Spencer.

In later life London's connections with the Left became strained, particularly by his views of contemporary events in Mexico, which, Kershaw considers, were vindicated by history: "By 1916 the various warring groups would have German, American and Japanese backing, and the 'Mexican Revolution' would no longer be a popular rising, but a contest between imperial powers to dominate the region." (Pg 270).

London followed Nietzsche's dictum to "Live dangerously", and his star burnt bright but short. His recklessness could have got him killed in a waterfront brawl, swallowed by rapids, frozen to death in the snowy wastes of Canada, drowned at sea or eaten by cannibals. As it was 'John Barleycorn' got him first.

Rik 10 September 1997

EXTERNAL LINKS

BETWEEN THE COVERS (HarperCollins)