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The Call of the Wild (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.91) - 455 listener ratings
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Brimming with tense and violent incidents The Call of the Wild traces the changes in the heart of Buck, the dog who grows from a pampered pet in California to a rugged fearsome and indomitable working dog in the far north. Primeval instincts surface in Buck, and only his affection for John Thornton, his one decent master, delays his return to the wild. Finally, after avenging his murdered friend, Buck takes over his true domain as leader of a wolf pack and runs free amidst the harsh landscape. 1. THE ABDUCTION. Buck, a huge cross-bred dog, half St Bernard and half Scotch shepherd, is happy in the sunny Santa Clara Valley of California. His master Judge Miller, treats him kindly and the other dogs and humans respect him. However, the gold- rush in the Klondike creates a demand for rugged, hard-working dogs, and Manuel, a devious servant, steals Buck. The dog has no reason to be suspicious when Manuel leads him away with a rope around is neck, but when he realises his fate, Buck becomes violent. Manuel sells the dog, who is then bundled on a train. Buck is carried north in a crate, in which he grows increasingly enraged. When it is opened, Buck leaps out snarling, only to be clubbed unconscious. Seeing the same happen to other dogs, he realises the power of the club. Buck is then sold to a Frenchman, Perrault, and continues his journey by ship. At their final destination, Buck sees snow for the first time. 2. INTO THE WILD. Buck is appalled by the savagery of the dog fights in Alaska. Spitz, a large white Spitzbergen dog, asserts his authority with ferocity over all the newcomers. Buck is harnessed on a sledge between two experienced dogs and learns quickly. However, he finds the life hard, and is constantly tired and hungry. On his first night, Buck attempts to sleep in a nearby tent but is driven out by Perrault and his friend Francois. Buck realizes that to keep warm, he must bury himself in the snow. Soon his muscles harden and his wild instincts are reawakened. 3. BATTLE FOR PRIMACY. Perrault drives his dogs hard in order to get to Dawson City, but he also treats them fairly, and makes leather shoes for Buck whose feet are still unused to the ice. Spitz, the team leader, senses a rival in Buck and tries to provoke a fight. Buck, in turn, begin to undermine Spitz’s authority and ruins the team’s cohesion. However, Buck is too clever to be caught misbehaving. Eventually the rivalry comes to a head when the pack is chasing a rabbit. Buck is leading, but Spitz short-cuts the group and gets to the prey. Buck charges him and is cut in the fight that follows. He then feints and breaks Spitz’s left leg. Spitz is doomed by his injury and the other dogs tear him to pieces. Buck is now top dog. 4. HARD JOURNEY. The dog-team soon regains it unity under Buck’s leadership and makes a record journey over the mountains down to the Gulf of Alaska. In the town of Skagway, the dogs are sold to a half-Scotsman, who drives them back to Dawson in terrible conditions. One night, while day-dreaming by the camp fire, Buck glimpses a primitive man beside him, his soul thrills with ancient passions. The next day Dave, another dog, falls ill due to the cold and is shot - such is the law of the wild and of survival. Returning to Skagway, the dogs expect a rest, but are sold to two Americans, Charles and Hal. 5. FOOLS AND THE HELM. The two men overload their sledge and the exhausted dogs fail to shift it. When on the move, their equipment tips over in the main road. After much unwanted advice from experienced onlookers, the Americans try again, with more dogs. However, they fail to take sufficient rations, and make matters worse by initially overfeeding the team. Finally, Hal cuts the dogs’ ration and they grow weaker. Mercedes, Charles’ wife becomes tired and insists on riding on the sledge, adding to the load. Several dogs die and the others become emaciated. 6. THE IDEAL MASTER. The team pulls into John Thornton’s camp. He warns against crossing the nearly thawed White River, but Hal ignores him. Hal’s dogs are so tired that he resorts to whipping them, but Buck refuses to move. Enraged at Hal’s cruelty, Thornton knocks him down, and Buck is left behind. The team goes on, but the ice breaks and all drown. Buck, nursed by Thornton, becomes a loyal friend and protects his new master ferociously when ‘Black’ Burton, an evil-tempered miner, attacks. Soon after, Thornton makes a bet on Buck’s strength and risks all his money. 7. HAPPINESS REGAINED. Buck wins the bet triumphantly by pulling a 1,000-pound sledge from standstill. With his winnings, Thornton and his friends head east to find a lost mine, and Bucks earns himself respect. Wandering through the wilderness, Buck is haunted by primeval visions. Thornton finally settles in a gold-rich valley. 8. BACK TO THE WILD. Woken one night by a wolf’s howl, Buck goes in pursuit of it and makes friends with the wild beast. As he runs free, he suddenly remembers Thornton and rushes back to the camp. Soon, Buck begins to sleep in the wild and to track animals. One day he kills a bull moose, but on returning to camp discovers that Yeehat Indians have massacred everyone. Maddened, he rushes and kills as many Indians as he can before the rest flee. As night falls, wolves enter the valley. All Buck’s ties to the civilized world are broken with Thornton’s death, so after a bloody fight, he is accepted as the leader of the pack
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"London's stories all teach so many lessons while in the mystery of the story. To Build a Fire is a great short story. Man should always listen to those who are more experienced or be ready to pay the consequences! While Fang and Call of the Wild are classic favorites!"
— Martha (5 out of 5 stars)
The Call of the Wild Listener Reviews
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" The Call of the Wild is one of my favorite books of all time. "
— Rachel, 1/10/2014 -
" I love London and his simple way of showing what really matters. And the way he makes me dream about rugged Wild... "
— Dominik, 1/6/2014 -
" Very vivid description. These are good books about passion, friendship, loyalty... things that maybe hard to explain by words. "
— Hieu, 12/27/2013 -
" i thought that it was a very interesting book! Most of the time, I didn't want to put it down!!8] "
— Reagan, 11/11/2013 -
" It was great rereading this classic. "
— Donald, 5/18/2013 -
" thought i'd give it a try after reading into the wild for the club... "
— Hollis, 3/24/2013 -
" Really similar to White Fang, and there are some heavy darwinian undertones, but there's just something that gets me about the wilderness. I liked it. "
— Towens23, 11/25/2012 -
" This one is short but good, read this one evening instead of watching American Idol..... "
— Geno, 2/22/2012 -
" I have always loved Jack London for making us Remember a time gone by, and to let us experience men who live on the edge of the wild. "
— Mark, 9/18/2011 -
" I liked To Build A Fire best, even though the other two are more well known. "
— Bill, 9/4/2011 -
" another of those books i somehow missed growing up. poignant. "
— Krissy, 7/12/2011 -
" It was such a great book. Great details with specific and amazing truths about wolves in particular and nature in general. "
— An, 5/24/2011 -
" London's "The Call of the Wild" is a beautiful and emotional depiction of the life of a dog born and raised in a loving environment. He is betrayed and has to cope with life in the wild. "
— Leon, 5/19/2011 -
" London's "The Call of the Wild" is a beautiful and emotional depiction of the life of a dog born and raised in a loving environment. He is betrayed and has to cope with life in the wild. "
— Leon, 5/19/2011 -
" London's "The Call of the Wild" is a beautiful and emotional depiction of the life of a dog born and raised in a loving environment. He is betrayed and has to cope with life in the wild. "
— Leon, 5/19/2011 -
" London's "The Call of the Wild" is a beautiful and emotional depiction of the life of a dog born and raised in a loving environment. He is betrayed and has to cope with life in the wild. "
— Leon, 5/19/2011 -
" Really enjoyed reading about Buck and his life. It's good to go back and read some classics especially when your teacher didn't assign them!! "
— Julia, 5/17/2011 -
" Really enjoyed reading about Buck and his life. It's good to go back and read some classics especially when your teacher didn't assign them!! "
— Julia, 5/17/2011 -
" Really enjoyed reading about Buck and his life. It's good to go back and read some classics especially when your teacher didn't assign them!! "
— Julia, 5/17/2011 -
" Really enjoyed reading about Buck and his life. It's good to go back and read some classics especially when your teacher didn't assign them!! "
— Julia, 5/17/2011 -
" A wonderful, quick read. I loved that it was written from the perspective of the dog, and while London clearly has an idealistic view of nature, I enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I enjoyed it because he painted nature in such a vibrant, idealistic way. "
— Meg, 5/16/2011 -
" A wonderful, quick read. I loved that it was written from the perspective of the dog, and while London clearly has an idealistic view of nature, I enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I enjoyed it because he painted nature in such a vibrant, idealistic way. "
— Meg, 5/16/2011 -
" A wonderful, quick read. I loved that it was written from the perspective of the dog, and while London clearly has an idealistic view of nature, I enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I enjoyed it because he painted nature in such a vibrant, idealistic way. "
— Meg, 5/16/2011 -
" A wonderful, quick read. I loved that it was written from the perspective of the dog, and while London clearly has an idealistic view of nature, I enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I enjoyed it because he painted nature in such a vibrant, idealistic way. "
— Meg, 5/16/2011 -
" Had to read it for school, don't remember much about it but I thought it was ok. "
— Fawn, 5/15/2011 -
" Had to read it for school, don't remember much about it but I thought it was ok. "
— Fawn, 5/15/2011 -
" Had to read it for school, don't remember much about it but I thought it was ok. "
— Fawn, 5/15/2011 -
" Had to read it for school, don't remember much about it but I thought it was ok. "
— Fawn, 5/15/2011 -
" I read this along with my 7th graders in my internship this semester. I'm not sure I really like this type of story, but Jack London was definitely a very good writer, and creative to be able to write from a dog's perspective. "
— Lauren, 5/14/2011 -
" I read this along with my 7th graders in my internship this semester. I'm not sure I really like this type of story, but Jack London was definitely a very good writer, and creative to be able to write from a dog's perspective. "
— Lauren, 5/14/2011 -
" I read this along with my 7th graders in my internship this semester. I'm not sure I really like this type of story, but Jack London was definitely a very good writer, and creative to be able to write from a dog's perspective. "
— Lauren, 5/14/2011 -
" I read this along with my 7th graders in my internship this semester. I'm not sure I really like this type of story, but Jack London was definitely a very good writer, and creative to be able to write from a dog's perspective. "
— Lauren, 5/14/2011 -
" Very well written, just not my type of book. "
— Karen, 5/12/2011 -
" Very well written, just not my type of book. "
— Karen, 5/12/2011 -
" Very well written, just not my type of book. "
— Karen, 5/12/2011 -
" Very well written, just not my type of book. "
— Karen, 5/12/2011 -
" This book is wasted on 10 year olds. "
— Philip, 5/10/2011 -
" This book is wasted on 10 year olds. "
— Philip, 5/10/2011 -
" This book is wasted on 10 year olds. "
— Philip, 5/10/2011 -
" This book is wasted on 10 year olds. "
— Philip, 5/10/2011 -
" It was really sad!!! It was hard to get through! "
— Deanna, 5/8/2011 -
" It was really sad!!! It was hard to get through! "
— Deanna, 5/8/2011 -
" It was really sad!!! It was hard to get through! "
— Deanna, 5/8/2011 -
" It was really sad!!! It was hard to get through! "
— Deanna, 5/8/2011 -
" It's told from the perspective of a dog! "
— Beibei, 5/6/2011 -
" I was really prejudiced, but it turned out to be a fair read. Still not my particular type of book.. but it I didn't feel the urge to put it down. "
— Alan, 5/6/2011 -
" I was really prejudiced, but it turned out to be a fair read. Still not my particular type of book.. but it I didn't feel the urge to put it down. "
— Alan, 5/6/2011 -
" It's told from the perspective of a dog! "
— Beibei, 5/6/2011 -
" I was really prejudiced, but it turned out to be a fair read. Still not my particular type of book.. but it I didn't feel the urge to put it down. "
— Alan, 5/6/2011 -
" It's told from the perspective of a dog! "
— Beibei, 5/6/2011 -
" It's told from the perspective of a dog! "
— Beibei, 5/6/2011 -
" I was really prejudiced, but it turned out to be a fair read. Still not my particular type of book.. but it I didn't feel the urge to put it down. "
— Alan, 5/6/2011 -
" An honest and brutal portrayal of the North seen the from the eyes of the dog. Jack London paints a wonderful and realistic picture but it is a little too harsh for me. "
— Dave, 4/30/2011 -
" An honest and brutal portrayal of the North seen the from the eyes of the dog. Jack London paints a wonderful and realistic picture but it is a little too harsh for me. "
— Dave, 4/30/2011 -
" An honest and brutal portrayal of the North seen the from the eyes of the dog. Jack London paints a wonderful and realistic picture but it is a little too harsh for me. "
— Dave, 4/30/2011 -
" An honest and brutal portrayal of the North seen the from the eyes of the dog. Jack London paints a wonderful and realistic picture but it is a little too harsh for me. "
— Dave, 4/30/2011 -
" I haven't read this in many years, and it was worth the read! Just awesome. "
— Amy, 4/29/2011 -
" I haven't read this in many years, and it was worth the read! Just awesome. "
— Amy, 4/29/2011 -
" I haven't read this in many years, and it was worth the read! Just awesome. "
— Amy, 4/29/2011 -
" I haven't read this in many years, and it was worth the read! Just awesome. "
— Amy, 4/29/2011 -
" I would not reccomend this book, unless you like dogs ripping peoples throats out! "
— Bek, 4/27/2011 -
" I would not reccomend this book, unless you like dogs ripping peoples throats out! "
— Bek, 4/27/2011 -
" I would not reccomend this book, unless you like dogs ripping peoples throats out! "
— Bek, 4/27/2011
About Jack London
Jack London (1876–1916) was an American author, journalist, and social activist. Before making a living at his writing, he spent time as an oyster pirate, a sailor, a cannery worker, a gold miner, and a journalist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction writing. He is best known for his novels The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set during the Klondike gold rush, as well as the short stories “To Build a Fire,” “An Odyssey of the North,” and “Love of Life.” He also wrote of the South Pacific in such stories as “The Pearls of Parlay” and “The Heathen.” He was a passionate advocate of unionization, socialism, and the rights of workers and wrote several powerful works dealing with these topics, including The Iron Heel, The People of the Abyss, and The War of the Classes.
About Bob Sessions
Bob Sessions is an actor who has appeared on several television shows, including The Tomorrow People, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, Ruth Rendell Mysteries, and Rumpole of the Bailey. He has also worked extensively as a voice actor and audiobook narrator.