Jack London and His Times—An Unconventional Biography by Joan London (review)

172 Western American Literature may be assumed to be complete. It has also a “Note on Sources,” a happy substitute for the expected bibliography. P reston E. O nstad, Oregon State University Jack London and His Times—An Unconventional Biography. By Joan London. With a New Introduction by the Author. (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1968. xvii + 385 pages, $6.95.) It is generally conceded that the truly definitive biography of Jack London has yet to be written, and this probably cannot be done by any competent scholar until such time as unlimited access can be gained to all the available London papers, both in private hands and public institutions. However, in 1939 a biography was published that probably came closer to being reliable than any of the several others that had been done either before or since. For who could know Jack London better than his eldest daughter, with strong memories of her father to the age of sixteen, and a serious student of his life and writings ever since. The author has written a new Introduction to this edition, letting her textual portrait of the man and his times stand as it was written almost thirty years ago : a penetrating, vigorous, and candid document. In her introductory reappraisal, Joan London examines the many reasons for her father’s enduring and increasing popularity, and analyzes the changing modes in critical appraisal of London’s writings over the past fifty years. An important clue to the content of this biography lies in the title “. ..and His Times.” MissLondon is a skillful interpreter of the times in which her father lived, and she weaves national and international events into the fabric of his life, experiences, and philosophies with a deft hand. With many years’ experience herself in the California State Federation of Labor in a variety of tasks, she displays excellent insight into her father’s socialistic activities, and the way in which these many events helped shape and pattern his life. As Jack espoused socialism for the greater part of his entire life, these interpretations shed important light on aspects of his life hitherto not too well understood by other biographers. Having done intensive research intothe life of William Henry Chaney, the itinerant astrologer * ,Miss London doesn’t hesitate very early in the book to establish unequivocally Chaney as Jack London’s father. Her con­ victions were firm on this point when she wrote the book thirty years ago, *"W. H. Chaney = A Reppraisal,” by Joan London, American Book Collector, Vol. XVII, No. 3, November 1966, pp. 11-13. Reviews 173 and they remain as firm today. Unfortunately, she cannot be as positive on the matter of London’s death, saying, “He had taken a lethal dose, but who could say whether it had been with suicidal intention, or merely an overdose miscalculated in the midst of his agony?” Much conjecture and subsequent study have surrounded the circumstances of London’s death. Whether or not the mystery will ever be solved, other than in a conjectural way, is doubtful. Although the book was written thirty years ago, the prose remains as fresh and captivating today as the day it was written. And one is impressed by the effectiveness with which the author has organized and presented the myriad details and experiences relating to London’s early struggles to become a writer, his worldwide adventures and travels, his socialist leanings, his home life, his friends, and his many published books and short stories. The press has produced a convenient, well-designed book, somewhat smaller in format than the first edition, but alike in every other respect, in­ cluding the frontispiece portrait of London as a young man, and a working index. All London collectors, scholars, young students learning about Jack for the first time, and readers looking for a good book, will want this edition. It is indispensable to an understanding of a great American author. G eorge H. T w eney, Seattle, Washington Joaquin Miller. By O. W. Frost. (New York: Twayne Publishers, 1967. 140 pages, $3.95.) Like other volumes of the Twayne United States Authors Series, this study commences with a biographical chapter. Then follow sections...