Like the characters in the popular dime novels of the time,
London's heroes display such manly virtues as courage, loyalty,
and steadfastness as they conftont the merciless frozen expanses
of the north. Yet London breaks free of stereotypical figures
and one-dimensional plots to explore deeper psychological and
social questions of self-mastery, masculinity, and racial
domination. The uneasy relationship between the Native Americans
and whites lies at the heart of many of the stories, while
others reflect London's growing awareness of the destruction
wrought by the white incursion on Indian culture.Edited with an
Introduction and Notes by Jonathan Auerbach Northland Stories
comprises nineteen of Jack London's greatest short works,
including "An Odyssy of the North" (London's major breakthrough
as a young author), "The White Silence," "The Law of Life," "The
League of the Old Men," and the world classic "To Build a Fire."
Introduction by Jonathan Auerbach