Background and Life
Born: January 12, 1876 Was born John Chaney in San Francisco, California Son of Flora Wellman and William Chaney Father was an attorney, journalist and pioneered in American astrology Father was never part of his life. Grew up working constantly Rode trains, pirated oysters, shoveled coal Spent much of his time in libraries
Began writing in 1873 Described a voyage in which a typhoon took out his crew His mother encouraged him to enter a writing contest Beat out students from Berkeley and Stanford with only an eighth grade education Trouble finding a publisher Enrolled in Berkeley but headed north to Canada
Trouble with gathering recognized and little following 1899 begins to publish stories in Overland Monthly Learned a lot and became a very disciplined writer Wrote AT LEAST a thousand words a day
At age 27, London found success with his novel, The Call of the Wild Goes on to publish over 50 books in the last 16 years of his life White Fang was published in 1906 and considered one of his better novels Covers the Russo-Japanese War in 1904
Marries Bess Maddern in 1900 Couple has two daughters, Joan and Bess Not a loving marriage but one to have healthy children Divorced by Remarries Charmian Kittredge Faces a number of health problems including kidney disease Dies November 22, 1916