A best-seller from its first publication in 1903, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a big mongrel dog who is shipped from his comfortable life in California to Alaska, where he must adapt to the harsh life of a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. The narrative recounts Buckâ s brutal obedience training, his struggle to meet the demands of human masters, and his rise to the position of lead sled dog as a result of his superior physical and mental qualities. Finally, Buck is free to respond to the â callâ of the wilderness. Over a hundred years after its publication, Jack Londonâ s â dog storyâ retains the enduring appeal of a classic.

This Broadview Edition includes a critical introduction that explores Londonâ s life and legacy and the complex scientific and psychological ideas drawn upon by London in writing the story. The appendices include material on the Klondike, Darwinâ s writings on dogs, other contemporary writings on instinct and atavism, and maps of the regions in which the story takes place.