Jack London’s Mark on Literature, by Jeanne Campbell Reesman
Jack London means many things around the globe. He was a pivotal writer at the turn of the century whose literary naturalism and socialism also had important effects on the literatures of many nations – including, first the United States, but by the year 2000, also in nearly 100 separate languages.
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Jeanne Reesman’s recent post, “Jack London’s Mark on Literature,” sheds tremendous light on the author’s contributions to America’s evolving literary landscape. Naturalist narratives, including those of London, too often generate purely social Darwinian readings. Reesman’s approach to naturalism is more nuanced, however, as she recognizes London’s inclusive vision. I am interested in the author’s occasional sensitivity to marginalized populations, which I think surface most prominently in his narratives about prizefighting and physical fitness. Jeanne Reesman’s work on “Jack London’s Racial Lives” has contributed so much in this area, and I certainly am inspired by this most recent post.