White Fang by Jack LondonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fantastic story with its amazing ‘insights’ into how the young wolf cub, and later on, the frighteningly experienced adult, White Fang reacts and learns throughout his short life. Admittedly Jack London includes great chunks of anthropomorphic behaviour for the wolf-dog but I willingly accepted this because of his exciting tale! What struck me after reading quite a few chapters, was that this story seemed to be a reverse of London’s first book, The Call of the Wild, when Buck a sledge dog, is ‘trained’ to become a fierce fighting hound. I read that many years ago as a teenager but never got round to White Fang.
The opening chapters about a wolf pack hunting a two-man sled team, does prepare you slightly for what you may be in for as you read on. But there may be one or two shocks and surprises for some readers.
White Fang’s survival, growing up in the Indian camp and then with a viciously cruel owner, is a terrible and upsetting read for many pages. His new experience later and changes within his inner self, when owned by a much kinder man, is a touching and rewarding read. And what a fabulous ending to a remarkable book! I daresay I won’t leave it so long before I read it again. Recommended to young adults and to more mature adults.
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