Hello, photography lovers! Recently I've re-read one of my old favorites - White Fang by Jack London. I still have the edition you see below which my brother received in primary school for highest grades. :) I've been always been an adventurer in love with wilderness, wolves in particular have always amazed me, so this book pretty much brings everything I love.
Nearly 20 years after my first encounter with it, this remains one of the most exciting and beautiful adventures I've ever embarked upon through reading. The story is about a tamed wolf-wild dog that learns to grow up amidst the conflict of nature and man, torn between an inherent instinct for solitude and the need for security under the rule of human-gods. But this is no ordinary wolf; it is a superior representative of its kind, strong and ruthless, a terror to all similar to him.
“He had come to know quite thoroughly the world in which he lived. His outlook was bleak and materialistic. The world as he saw it was a fierce and brutal world, a world without warmth, a world in which caresses and affection and the bright sweetness of spirit did not exist.”
The story is set in the far north of Canada, in snow-covered forests and clearings where the struggle for survival is relentless and daily. It is written predominantly from the wolf's perspective, without any attempt to humanize the animal. No, here Jack London showcases his rich personal experience and vividly portrays the animal-beast true to its wild nature. London spent years in Alaska and you feel from his descriptions that he's been through what he writes.
He doesn't describe animal's rational thoughts as one would expect for a human but its innate instincts, sensory perceptions, wisdom, and experiences inherited from ancestors deeply embedded in its blood. It's a fascinating understanding of animal nature. Some might say not everything is realistically depicted, but having always been deeply connected with animals myself, I was continually amazed by the accuracy with which the author depicts the character of the wolf-dog. This exceptionally challenging task of writing from White Fang's perspective succeeds due to the author's unique talent and insight.
Through the journey of a wolf that never knew an easy life, we learn about the brutality of nature, about Native Americans and white men, and how environment and people shape the nature of an animal. We follow the wolf's journey from birth, starting from the story of his mother, we watch him get into troubles, fights with other wild dogs, and his attempt to understand humans. We also realize that natural instincts never disappear, no matter how suppressed they are.
“The Wild still lingered in him and the wolf in him merely slept.”
The language is beautiful and precise, the descriptions of the icy northern nature vivid, the depictions of brutal fights powerful, the plot skillfully driven. The story flows smoothly without a moment of stagnation. Written in 1906, it contains a few depictions of white supremacy that don’t hold up, a small and the only flaw.
For those who missed this book in their younger years, the good news is it's never too late to pick it up at any moment because it is powerful and sincere. In retrospect, I only now truly appreciated and realized its full beauty.
4.5/5
That sounds like an intriguing book and something I'd want to pick up.
It's such a lovely yet brutal adventure. Really puts you in the mind of a wolf. :)
This sounds really familiar as if we did it in school as well, but I am not a 100% sure. My memory of my youth is slowly fading (sadly). But this looks like one of those old gems (classics) that you need to read! I will see if I can find it in a bookstore here. Thank you for the reminder!
Somewhere it's recommended school literature so you might have read it, although I think you would remember. :) It's a beautiful story! There's an accompanying book that goes along with this one - The Call of the Wild, but I believe White Fang is superior.
Thank you so much for the second book recommendation as well! I am sure you are right, unless they translated the book into my home language and we did the translation (under a different name). But I will look at the second hand bookshop when I return for a copy.
Well I hope you find it! :)
Reading in our youth is not the same as reading when we are more mature. We always find new messages or the same ones but from a different perspective. It's interesting to revisit books and films. I love this book. 💫
And sometimes I avoid returning to old favorites fearing I might not enjoy it as an older self. :D Glad you love this book!
This sounds very appealing. Something I'd want to pick up and read on a very beautiful day.
This is perfect for a cold day, given that most of the book is set in snowy forests of North America. :)
Oouuuhh. Thanks for the heads-up. <3
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