John Barleycorn

As close to an autobiography as Jack London ever wrote, John Barleycorn recounts the author’s lifelong struggle with alcohol. In this brutally frank memoir, which takes its title from the British folksong that personifies the source of whiskey and beer, London writes of alcohol as his friend and his enemy, an “august companion” and a “red-handed killer.” In an age when alcoholism was viewed as a genetic weakness, London’s frank, ahead-of-its-time treatment of his struggles tarnished his sterling reputation as a paragon of all-American manhood. The book created a sensation upon its 1913 publication and became a powerful tool of the temperance movement. More than a screed against demon rum, however, the tale recounts London’s years as a sailor, explorer, and frontiersman up and down the West Coast, from Southern California to Alaska. Rich in anecdotes and written in a captivating style, the book also offers compelling insights into London’s life as a rugged adventurer and popular writer.

Author Biography

Novelist, journalist, and social activist Jack London (1876–1916) rose from abject poverty to international fame. The bestselling, highest-paid, and most popular author of his era, London created a substantial body of work in his short life, drawing upon his experiences as a cannery worker, sailor, railroad hobo, and prospector.