L'Appel de la foret

Par Jack London

Un des chefs d'oeuvre de Jack London, un grand classique de la littérature de jeunesse.
Buck, un croisé de terre-neuve et de colley âgé de 4 ans et demi et pesant 70 kg, appartient a un magistrat de la vallée de Santa Clara (Haute-Californie). Loin d'avoir une «vie de chien», Buck coule une existence heureuse dans la famille du juge Miller. Mais tout bascule le jour ou, victime de la traîtrise d'un homme, il se retrouve vendu a un conducteur de traîneau dans le Grand Nord américain. Finie la vie d'aristocrate blasé, Buck va devoir affronter son destin dans un univers glacial et sans pitié, ou chaque faute, chaque erreur est séverement sanctionnée. Saura-t-il survivre dans ce monde cruel ou regne la loi du plus fort? Qu'adviendra-t-il de cet admirable chien le jour ou il découvrira, d'abord avec amertume, puis avec un plaisir trouble et instinctif, le gout du sang?

• Langue: Français
• Éditeur: Booklassic
• Date de sortie: 29 juin 2015
• ISBN: 9789635258970

Jack London

Jack London, né John Griffith Chaney le 12 janvier 1876 à San Francisco et mort le 22 novembre 1916 à Glen Ellen, Californie1,2,3,4,5, est un écrivain américain dont les thèmes de prédilection sont l'aventure et la nature sauvage.

Aperçu du livre

Chapitre 1

LA LOI PRIMITIVE

L’antique instinct nomade surgit,

Se ruant contre la chaîne de l’habitude ;

Et de son brumeux sommeil séculaire

S’élève le cri de la race.

Buck ne lisait pas les journaux et était loin de savoir ce qui se tramait vers la fin de 1897, non seulement contre lui, mais contre tous ses congénères. En effet, dans toute la région qui s’étend du détroit de Puget à la baie de San Diégo on traquait les grands chiens à longs poils, aussi habiles à se tirer d’affaire dans l’eau que sur la terre ferme…

Les hommes, en creusant la terre obscure, y avaient trouvé un métal jaune, enfoncé dans le sol glacé des régions arctiques, et les compagnies de transport ayant répandu la nouvelle à grand renfort de réclame, les gens se ruaient en foule vers le nord. Et il leur fallait des chiens, de ces grands chiens robustes aux muscles forts pour travailler, et à l’épaisse fourrure pour se protéger contre le froid.

Buck habitait cette belle demeure, située dans la vallée ensoleillée de Santa-Clara, qu’on appelle « le Domaine du juge Miller ».

De la route, on distingue à peine l’habitation à demi cachée par les grands arbres, qui laissent entrevoir la large et fraîche véranda, régnant sur les quatre faces de la maison. Des allées soigneusement sablées mènent au perron, sous l’ombre tremblante des hauts peupliers, parmi les vertes pelouses. Un jardin immense et fleuri entoure la villa, puis ce sont les communs imposants, écuries spacieuses, où s’agitent une douzaine de grooms et de valets bavards, cottages couverts de plantes grimpantes, pour les jardiniers et leurs aides ; enfin l’interminable rangée des serres, treilles et espaliers, suivis de vergers plantureux, de gras pâturages, de champs fertiles et de ruisseaux jaseurs.

Le monarque absolu de ce beau royaume était, depuis quatre ans, le chien Buck, magnifique animal dont le poids et la majesté tenaient du gigantesque terre-neuve Elno, son père, tandis que sa mère Sheps, fine chienne colley de pure race écossaise, lui avait donné la beauté des formes et l’intelligence humaine de son regard. L’autorité de Buck était indiscutée. Il régnait sans conteste non seulement sur la tourbe insignifiante des chiens d’écurie, sur le carlin japonais Toots, sur le mexicain Isabel, étrange créature sans poil dont l’aspect prêtait à rire, mais encore sur tous les habitants du même lieu que lui. Majestueux et doux, il était le compagnon inséparable du juge, qu’il suivait dans toutes ses promenades, il s’allongeait d’habitude aux pieds de son maître, dans la bibliothèque, le nez sur ses pattes de devant, clignant des yeux vers le feu, et ne marquant que par un imperceptible mouvement des sourcils l’intérêt qu’il prenait à tout ce qui se passait autour de lui. Mais apercevait-il au-dehors les fils aînés du juge, prêts à se mettre en selle, il se levait d’un air digne et daignait les escorter ; de même, quand les jeunes gens prenaient leur bain matinal dans le grand réservoir cimenté du jardin, Buck considérait de son devoir d’être de la fête. Il ne manquait pas non plus d’accompagner les jeunes filles dans leurs promenades à pied ou en voiture ; et parfois on le voyait sur les pelouses, portant sur son dos les petits-enfants du juge, les roulant sur le gazon et faisant mine de les dévorer, de ses deux rangées de dents étincelantes. Les petits l’adoraient, tout en le craignant un peu, car Buck exerçait sur eux une surveillance sévère et ne permettait aucun écart à la règle. D’ailleurs, ils n’étaient pas seuls à le redouter, le sentiment de sa propre importance et le respect universel qui l’entourait investissant le bel animal d’une dignité vraiment royale.

Depuis quatre ans, Buck menait l’existence d’un aristocrate blasé, parfaitement satisfait de soi-même et des autres, peut-être légèrement enclin à l’égoïsme, ainsi que le sont trop souvent les grands de ce monde. Mais son activité incessante, la chasse, la pêche, le sport, et surtout sa passion héréditaire pour l’eau fraîche le gardaient de tout alourdissement et de la moindre déchéance physique : il était, en vérité, le plus admirable spécimen de sa race qu’on pût voir. Sa vaste poitrine, ses flancs évidés sous l’épaisse et soyeuse fourrure, ses pattes droites et formidables, son large front étoilé de blanc, son regard franc, calme et attentif, le faisaient admirer de tous.

Telle était la situation du chien Buck, lorsque la découverte des mines d’or du Klondike attira vers le nord des milliers d’aventuriers. Tout manquait dans ces régions neuves et désolées ; et pour assurer la subsistance et la vie même des émigrants, on dut avoir recours aux traîneaux attelés de chiens, seuls animaux de trait capables de supporter une température arctique.

Buck semblait créé pour jouer un rôle dans les solitudes glacées de l’Alaska ; et c’est précisément ce qui advint, grâce à la trahison d’un aide-jardinier. Le misérable Manoël avait pour la loterie chinoise une passion effrénée ; et ses gages étant à peine suffisants pour assurer l’existence de sa femme et de ses enfants, il ne recula pas devant un crime pour se procurer les moyens de satisfaire son vice.

Un soir, que le juge présidait une réunion et que ses fils étaient absorbés par le règlement d’un nouveau club athlétique, le traître Manoël appelle doucement Buck, qui le suit sans défiance, convaincu qu’il s’agit d’une simple promenade à la brume. Tous deux traversent sans encombre la propriété, gagnent la grande route et arrivent tranquillement à la petite gare de Collège-Park. Là, un homme inconnu place dans la main de Manoël quelques pièces d’or, tout en lui reprochant d’amener l’animal en liberté. Aussitôt Manoël jette au cou de Buck une corde assez forte pour l’étrangler en cas de résistance. Buck supporte cet affront avec calme et dignité ; bien que ce procédé inusité le surprenne, il a, par habitude, confiance en tous les gens de la maison, et sait que les hommes possèdent une sagesse supérieure même à la sienne. Toutefois, quand l’étranger fait mine de prendre la corde, Buck manifeste par un profond grondement le déplaisir qu’il éprouve. Aussitôt la corde se resserre, lui meurtrissant cruellement la gorge et lui coupant la respiration. Indigné, Buck, se jette sur l’homme ; alors celui-ci donne un tour de poignet vigoureux : la corde se resserre encore ; furieux, surpris, la langue pendante, la poitrine convulsée, Buck se tord impuissant, ressentant plus vivement l’outrage inattendu que l’atroce douleur physique ; ses beaux yeux se couvrent d’un nuage, deviennent vitreux… et c’est à demi mort qu’il est brutalement jeté dans un fourgon à bagages par les deux complices.

Quand Buck revint à lui, tremblant de douleur et de rage, il comprit qu’il était emporté par un train, car ses fréquentes excursions avec le juge lui avaient appris à connaître ce mode de locomotion.

Ses yeux, en s’ouvrant, exprimèrent la colère et l’indignation d’un monarque trahi. Soudain, il aperçoit à ses côtés l’homme auquel Manoël l’a livré. Bondir sur lui, ivre de rage, est l’affaire d’un instant ; mais déjà la corde se resserre et l’étrangle… pas sitôt pourtant que les mâchoires puissantes du molosse n’aient eu le temps de se refermer sur la main brutale, la broyant jusqu’à l’os…

Un homme d’équipe accourt au bruit :

– Cette brute a des attaques d’épilepsie, fait le voleur, dissimulant sa main ensanglantée sous sa veste. On l’emmène à San Francisco, histoire de le faire traiter par un fameux vétérinaire. Ça vaut de l’argent, un animal comme ça… son maître y tient…

L’homme d’équipe se retire, satisfait de l’explication.

Mais quand on arrive à San Francisco, les habits du voleur sont en lambeaux, son pantalon pend déchiré à partir du genou, et le mouchoir qui enveloppe sa main est teint d’une pourpre sombre. Le voyage, évidemment, a été mouvementé.

Il traîne Buck à demi mort jusqu’à une taverne louche du bord de l’eau, et là, tout en examinant ses blessures, il ouvre son cœur au cabaretier.

– Sacré animal !… En voilà un enragé !… grommelle-t-il en avalant une copieuse rasade de gin ; cinquante dollars pour cette besogne-là !… Par ma foi, je ne recommencerais pas pour mille !

– Cinquante ? fait le patron. Et combien l’autre a-t-il touché ?

– Hum !… il n’a jamais voulu lâcher cette sale bête pour moins de cent… grogne l’homme.

– Cent cinquante ?… Pardieu, il les vaut ou je ne suis qu’un imbécile, fait le patron, examinant le chien.

Mais le voleur a défait le bandage grossier qui entoure sa main blessée.

– Du diable si je n’attrape pas la rage ! exclame-t-il avec colère.

– Pas de danger !… C’est la potence qui t’attend… ricane le patron. Dis donc, il serait peut-être temps de lui enlever son collier…

Étourdi, souffrant cruellement de sa gorge et de sa langue meurtries, à moitié étranglé, Buck voulut faire face à ses tourmenteurs. Mais la corde eut raison de ses résistances ; on réussit enfin à limer le lourd collier de cuivre marqué au nom du juge. Alors les deux hommes lui retirèrent la corde et le jetèrent dans une caisse renforcée de barreaux de fer.

Il y passa une triste nuit, ressassant ses douleurs et ses outrages. Il ne comprenait rien à tout cela. Que lui voulaient ces hommes ? Pourquoi le maltraitaient-ils ainsi ? Au moindre bruit il dressait les oreilles, croyant voir paraître le juge ou tout au moins un de ses fils. Mais lorsqu’il apercevait la face avinée du cabaretier, ou les yeux louches de son compagnon de route, le cri joyeux qui tremblait dans sa gorge se changeait

Avis sur L'Appel de la foret

[col2910_1 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Synopsis.......The story takes place in the extreme conditions of the Yukon during the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, where strong sled dogs were in high demand. After Buck, a domesticated dog, is snatched from a pastoral ranch in California, he is sold into a brutal life as a sled dog. The novella details Buck's struggle to adjust and survive the cruel treatment he receives from humans, other dogs, and nature. He eventually sheds the veneer of civilization altogether and instead relies on primordial instincts and the lessons he has learned to become a respected and feared leader in the wild.Published back in 1903 after the author had spent sometime in the aforementioned Yukon.I was looking for something a little bit different and quick to read after getting bogged down by another book which I wasn't enjoying. I had previously heard of this book, hasn't everyone(?) but can't recall reading it ever during my near half-century of years, not even in the dim and distant days of school. Glad I made the effort though.Gripping, exciting, moving.......a testament of an indomitable spirit, bravery, determination, loyalty, fearlessness, and probably another dozen or so admirable attributes. Sad in places, but ultimately an uplifting and rewarding read.I wouldn't put it past me finding more from London in the future.4 from 5Down-loaded free from the internet.

[jasonpettus · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)The CCLaP 100: In which I read for the first time a hundred so-called "classics," then decide whether or not they deserve the labelBook #30: The Call of the Wild, by Jack London (1903)The story in a nutshell:One of the first-ever anthropomorphized children's books, Jack London's 1903 Call of the Wild tells the tale of "Buck," a cross-bred dog (part Saint Bernard, part Scotch Shepherd) who begins our story as a pampered family pet in northern California*; what made this book unusual for its time, however, is that this story is actually told from the viewpoint and mindset of the dog itself, as Buck finds himself first kidnapped and then sold as a sled dog in the Yukon, right in the middle of that region's Industrial-Age gold rush, when hearty dogs were at a premium. The rest of this short book, then, is essentially a look at what happens to Buck within this environment, and how his formerly tame nature is slowly replaced with his inborn animal instinct, as we readers are introduced one at a time to the legitimate horrors that came with this lifestyle back then (starvation, exhaustion, cruel owners, hostile natives, bloody infighting for both survival and pecking order), with Buck by the end joining a pack of rogue Alaskan wolves and becoming a semi-mythical legend, among both the civilized humans and dogs who he leaves behind.The argument for it being a classic:Well, to start with, it's one of the most popular children's books in history, with adaptations of the tale that continue to be created to this day (for example, a popular 3D movie version is being released on DVD the same exact week I'm writing this review); and then there's the fact that this was one of the first animal tales ever to be written from the point of view of the actual animal, a popular technique that in our modern times has become an entire subgenre unto itself. It can also be argued that this is a highly important historical record of the Alaskan gold rush, detailing the ins and outs of daily life there back then in a way that only a local could've (for those who don't know, London actually lived there himself for a time** starting in 1897); and let's not forget, its fans say, that this remains one of the few titles of the prolific London to still remain popular, out of the nearly hundred books he actually wrote, an author who was immensely important to the development of American literature in the early 20th century (not to mention insanely popular when he was alive), and who deserves to not be forgotten.The argument against:Like many of the children's books included in this essay series, the main argument among its critics seems to be that this book is only still considered a "classic" in the first place because of tradition; that if you take an actual close look at the book itself, it is neither superlative in quality nor even that popular anymore, one of those titles more apt to be nostalgically reminisced upon by middle-agers than an actual good book to be read again and again in our contemporary times. This is part of the problem with the term "classic," after all, is that our definition of it is constantly changing from one generation to the next; and children's literature is particularly susceptible to this change in definition, in that it's children's books that have most changed in nature in the last hundred years. Although no one seems to be arguing anymore with the idea that this is a historically important book, there seems to be a growing amount of people saying that it isn't a timeless gem either, and that it's maybe time here in the early 2000s to retire its longstanding "classic" status.My verdict:So out of the thirty books I've now reviewed for this essay series, this may be the hardest time I've had yet determining whether to classify a title as a "classic" or not. Because on the one hand, it's an undeniably thrilling book, a real page-turner that was a joy as a nostalgic middle-ager to read, and like I said is a fantastic look not just at the nature of the animal spirit but all the historical details of life in the Yukon during the gold-rush years. But on the other hand, the book is much, much more violent and dark than what most of us consider appropriate anymore for modern children, and parents deserve to know this before just handing a copy over to their kids; in fact, there's enough blood and death in this book to give just about any kid nightmares for weeks, making it ironically much more appropriate anymore for adults than contemporary children. Also, like any book that's over a hundred years old, there are big sections of Call of the Wild that simply feel outdated, and I question whether people would actually enjoy a title like this anymore if they're not reading specifically for historical reasons. As I mentioned, this is a big problem among a growing amount of children's literature that we once considered "classics," that in fact they're much more useful anymore as simple historical documents detailing a specific period in time, and aren't nearly as appropriate anymore for just handing to a modern kid, who after all has grown up with just a plethora of profoundly more sophisticated tales than such simplistic stories like these, and who aren't going to enjoy such stories nearly as much as a misty-eyed older adult looking back through the haze of nostalgia. It's for all these reasons that today I come down on the "no" side of the classic equation, although like I said, let it be known that I was right on the fence in this particular case.Is it a classic? No*And a little piece of trivia, by the way: London based this book on his landlord's pet dog, back when he lived in northern California himself during the height of the Yukon gold rush, a Saint Bernard that the families would regularly hook up to a wagon and have help perform household chores.**And if you really want to read something fascinating, check out sometime the actual derring-do life of London himself, who had real adventures in his youth twice as crazy as any of the stories he wrote: the illegitimate child of an astrologer and a mentally insane spiritualist, as a teenager he bought his first boat (borrowing money from the ex-slave who raised him) and became an oyster farmer, then after high school became a seal clubber in Japan for awhile; then during his years as a Yukon gold miner he developed scurvy and almost died, becoming a socialist by the end of his time there because of a liberal doctor who saved his life, and eventually becoming one of the first Americans in history to be able to make his entire living just from creative writing alone (and indeed, one of only a few handfuls of Americans to this day to become a millionaire from his creative writing). Sheesh!

[laphenix · Évaluation : 2 sur 5 étoiles]

The writing is strong and beautiful, and I suffered through it 'til the very end. I just can't handle the blood and abuse.

[msaucier818 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

This book was a nice change of pace for me as I hadn't read a classic story in quite some time. I must say, I really enjoyed this short novel centered around the dog Buck. I think it is a very interesting idea to center a book around a dog, and London pulls it off beautifully. It takes us through the entire life of the dog, from his life on a farm to his days as a sled dog in Alaska. The transformation Buck makes from domesticated pet to primitive, instinctual animal is fascinating to read and think about. The descriptive language used by the author is outstanding. Overall, I can see why this is considered a classic and I look forward to reading more of him.

[ireadthereforeiam · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

The story is written from the perspective of Buck, the dog. He is large, he is faithful and pragmatic, and he is kidnapped by a worker on the ranch he lives on, and sold to a trader who sends him north to run with a team dragging sleds. Poor Buck is mistreated, and faces a hard run. It is not just humans who are cruel to him, other dogs resent his size and presence, and battles for position as alpha male take place. The dog team are run to the ground, and Bucks saving grace is his size, strength and stamina. He is passed to and from inept and cruel owners until he finally meets an owner he can trust and bond with.It's a nice, if somewhat violent, story. Nothing too deep, but a read that carries you along.

[phillipjreese · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Great book!

[eadieb-1 · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

I listened to this audio and enjoyed the story very much. I can't believe I never read this before. I loved Jack London's intuitive feeling for animals. This story traces Buck's sudden entry into the wild and his education in survival among the wolves. Jack London's writing is exceptional and makes him one of the greatest American storytellers. If you haven't read this yet, you should as it is a quick, easy and thrilling read.

[bibleblaster · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

It was fun to read this again, as I had only the vaguest recollection from reading it as a kid. Refreshingly unsentimental in its depiction of the natural world, it raises important questions about yearning for a life "beyond good and evil." A walk on the wild side...

[joligula · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

What a great, timeless and wonderful story. The story of Buck an unbreakable dog
removed from a life of luxury and thrown into the cold and heartless adventure of the Alaskan wilds. A true story of heart and courage. At times the story is extremely violent but it all works. A story of such depth could never be told without the true grit in which London puts in its pages.

[viviennestrauss · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Excellent writing but I can see why I didn't like this in junior high - the cruelty to animals is pretty difficult to take. I saw recently that this is on a "banned book" list - have no idea why.

[weeziesbooks · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

The Call of the Wild
by Jack London

I re-read Call of the Wild by listening to it on audio from Audible. Although I have read it a few times over the years, I wanted to refresh it in my mind before seeing the up-coming movie. I am so glad that I did. I never fail to be taken back to my positive reading experiences of youth and the simple and powerful story lines where classics such as: White Fang, Old Yeller, Where the Red fern Grows, and Call of the Wild bring to the reader. It is perfect for young readers and those that love animal or dog stories. It does describe the cruelties and hardships endured by these wonderful dogs so consider this when choosing for a child. I give this story a 5 stars and consider it a classic.

[stevenjohntait · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Great book. Everyone should read it.

[john_warner-1 · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

When I initially read this American classic, I was in either elementary or high school. It had all the elements to entice a young boy. It is an adventure which occurs during the Yukon gold rush. The story's protagonist is Buck, an 140 lb St. Bernard and Scotch Collie mix, who is abducted from an easy life as the pet in St. Clara, California, and sold to dog traders who eventually sells him to mail couriers as a sled dog in the Yukon Territory. Buck will need to tap in to his more primeval instincts if he is to survive the harsh northern conditions. The third reason I chose this book is that it was short at less than 100 pages. I had recently read Moby Dick and I needed a break!

It has been good revisiting some of the classics I read as a youth. They become more enjoyable when you understand better literary themes and metaphors.

[ron18-1 · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

It's pretty hard to find fault with this story or the way it's told. It was particularly engaging to read while my family is in the process of rehabilitating a very fearful rescue dog. Jack London is among the go-to authors for perspective on how we think when you pare away frivolous comforts - and that's exemplified in CotW.

[angelarenea-1 · Évaluation : 1 sur 5 étoiles]

Maybe it's because I'm not a dog, but I just don't find it interesting being in the mind of Buck. I was very excited to read this because so many people raved about it, but it just didn't hold my interest even as a child.

[firewild · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Trust, betrayal, loyalty and animal cruelty. A heart wrenching story about the life of dogs during the gold rush from an animal POV. I am not always a fan of such an approach but it worked well here. Highly engaging (worked well for an audiobook) but not black and white, as I could relate even to the most "evil" characters. I guess that's why it's a "classic" (mental note: "Read more classics"=).

[heggiep · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

I read this book a few pages at a time (distracted by Facebook, Instagram & Twitter - the usual suspects). When I finally finished it I felt I had read a wonderful, though quite violent, story. Yes, despite flaws, a great tale.

[liscarey · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Another childhood favorite.

[ecataldi-1 · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

Honestly, the best part about this book was that it was narrated by Jeff Bridges. I love animal books but I feel as if I really would have enjoyed this much more in my youth. The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a mixed breed dog who is stolen from cozy home and his lush life as a house dog to be taken up north to be a sled dog during the Yukon Gold Rush. Buck quickly acclimates to the tough life and sets himself apart from the other dogs with his strength, smarts, and cunning. Told entirely through Buck's perspectives, this was one of the first popular books that had an animal as a narrator. To me the most interesting parts were about the wilderness, the scenery, and the people; it was a fascinating time during the late 1800s! Even though it is a little violent, this is a great kids book, especially for animal lovers!

[hopeevey · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

I was quite impressed by this book. I expected a simple, canine adventure story. I did get an adventure story, but the most interesting part was the inner journey. As you read it, keep in mind that Mr. London sets up Buck as a person. It's easy to identify with him, and more difficult to identify with most of the humans in the story. It's definitely food for thought.

[dandelionroots · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

These tales are so brutal.

"All the easy moral maxims of social life are tested - and most found wanting - in this ferocious landscape. This sometimes seems to be one of London's driving motives, as though his calling is to remind everyone of the chill below the warmth of our cozy social conventions." (Tobey Hiller)

[deaconbernie · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

It's hard to believe, that with 82 years of reading all sorts of books, this the first American Classic from an American Classic author that I''ve read. I'll try more of the classics but this work is no where near the top of my list of books. Yes, it is quite an adventure for this dog and he certainly had very many experiences but I can't get to the level of classical literature.

[enockpioulle · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

It's great juvenile literature, however, adults could also enjoy it for its so many fine qualities. Dog lovers and nature lovers in general will share more than one state of mind with Buck and the general description of the wilderness. Highly recommended.

[tapestry100 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Another one of those books that seems to have gotten past me in my school days, I just recently read The Call of the Wild for the first time. Like many of these books that I'm discovering pretty much everyone else has read except me, I think I'm glad that I came at them as an adult, as I don't think I would have revisited them had I read them earlier, and I don't think I would have taken away as much when I was younger. Jack London's story about Buck, a St. Bernard-Scotch Shepherd who is kidnapped from his idyllic southern California home to be a sled dog in the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush is a powerful tale. We follow Buck's journey as he discovers that not all men are kind like his previous owners, learns to navigate the ins and outs of the sled dog's pack pecking order, and finally as he discovers the primal nature of his being as he eventually starts to venture out into the wilderness on his own. The imagery that London uses in describing Buck's discovery of that primal nature is remarkable; I think of anything else in the book, I enjoyed these sequences best.

[nx74defiant · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Very enjoyable. I felt like Buck's dreaming of prehistoric man was unnecessary and I think it would have been better without that.

[she_climber · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

I always thought I had read this but I guess I confused it with White Fang. Got it on audio to listen to with my daughter (11) on a long car ride and we loved it. The entire story is told from the point of view of Buck, a St. Bernard/German Shepherd mix, who ends up in the Alaskan wilderness and becomes a thing of legends.

Now, to get White Fang.

[brakketh-1 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Buck's journey from domestic dog, to sled dog, to wolf. Aspects of nobility in returning to nature and civilisation as superior to 'wildness' mixed in a way that I found a little hard to reconcile, maybe colonialism?

[shulera1 · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

I had never read anything by Jack London before, and felt pretty guilty about that fact, so I picked up The Call of the Wild on audiobook and loved it. The prose was elegant in its simplicity, the pacing was quick and engaging, and I felt Buck wasn't made too human.

Excellent read. I would recommend it to anyone.

[bookconcierge · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

I am not a “dog person” and did not expect to like this classic tale, but I’m really glad I read this when I did. My father was a great outdoorsman and he loved animals, but especially our dogs. I listened to the first half on audio, but then finished by reading the actual book. This last half is when Buck, a St Bernard / Shepherd mix has finally found a man he loves and who loves him. They respect one another, and the hierarchy of the camp, but Buck is increasingly called to the wild. The writing is vivid – you can feel the cold, or the pain of hunger, or the joy of a Spring day. And Buck is a noble narrator. I re-read it today, remembering my father and our many dogs through the years.

[aine.fin · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Decided to read this when I saw it on the Guardian's best 100 books list - thought I had read it when I was younger but realised that was White Fang. Follows Buck the domestic dog stolen from the south and brought north to be a sled dog. Absorbing quick read.