The Strength of the Strong

The Strength of the Strong (1914) is a collection of short stories by American writer Jack London. Written and published when London was at the height of his success as an author, the stories that make up The Strength of the Strong engage with themes inspired by his lifelong advocacy of socialism. In the collection, London explores—through science fiction, naturalism, and historical narratives—the consequences of capitalism on human life, the nuances of geopolitical power, and the importance of the labor movement. In “The Strength of the Strong,” a parable, a prehistoric elder named Long-Beard speaks to a gathering of his fellow hunters. As they sit around a fire eating the remains of a wild bear carcass, Long-Beard tells the story of their people. He recalls how their society developed to promote individualism and hierarchy, and how conflict with other tribes and a lack of shared resources led to the breakdown of the community. “South of the Slot” is the story of Freddie Drummond, a sociology professor at Berkeley who leads a secret double life as a powerful union organizer named Big Bill Totts. As Totts’s influence in the labor movement grows, it becomes more and more difficult for Drummond to separate his identities and to keep his union work hidden from his fiancé, the wealthy aristocrat Catherine van Vorst. In “The Unparalleled Invasion,” a work of speculative fiction, London illustrates a future where China—which has risen to control all of Asia—is attacked with biological weapons by a combined force of Western powers. The Strength of the Strong is a collection of stories addressing issues of race, class, power, and violence from a master of science fiction and literary naturalism. This edition of Jack London’s The Strength of the Strong is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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