He was born John Griffith London in 1876 and lived a life full of adventure and hardship. He worked various jobs before finding success as a writer, including:
* Prospector: He went to the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897, seeking fortune. While he didn't strike it rich, his experiences there provided him with valuable material for his writing.
* Sailor: He worked as a sailor and oyster pirate on San Francisco Bay.
* Journalist: He worked as a reporter, covering the Klondike Gold Rush and other events.
This diverse experience allowed him to draw on real-life events and emotions for his stories. He became known for his adventure novels, including "The Call of the Wild", "White Fang", and "The Sea Wolf", which often reflected his personal experiences as a prospector and sailor.