The Jacket

Jack LondonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.3

Word count: 567K words
Chapters: 57

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Jacket (The Star-Rover) by Jack LondonAuthor: London, Jack, 1876-1916,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 1998

Editor's review

The Jacket, also known as The Star-Rover, is a novel by Jack London, released free by Project Gutenberg as an English eBook and classified under American and Canadian literature. The work has a pronounced psychological and speculative character within London's oeuvre, unfolding around the protagonist's predicament and contrasting with his adventure-focused wilderness fiction; it suits readers who wish to see the breadth of London's writing. This is the public-domain original text, with no Chinese translation or notes; the main barrier to entry is the English language itself and the shifts in narrative layers. It is better suited to readers with prior experience of English-language fiction who are willing to follow the narrative patiently. While reading, attend to the protagonist's psychological changes and the narrative structure rather than rushing for plot momentum; the book can also be set beside London's other works to observe how the author handles different subjects.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Jack London's non-wilderness works
Fans with some experience of English fiction who are willing to read the original
Literary readers who enjoy psychological and speculative narrative
Students who need a public-domain English text for coursework or self-study

Not a good fit for

Readers not yet proficient in English who rely on Chinese translation
Readers expecting fast-paced adventure and impatient with psychological narrative
Beginners who need background analysis or a Chinese introduction

Reading tips

First note that the novel is also known as The Star-Rover, to avoid confusing it with other works of the same name.
While reading, pay attention to the narrative layers and the protagonist's psychological changes; there is no need to finish quickly.
Read in sections and take brief notes to sort out the plot and the characters' situations.
After finishing, compare it with London's other works to appreciate the differences in subject and approach.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Are The Jacket and The Star-Rover the same book?

According to the source, the book is titled The Jacket and noted as also known as The Star-Rover; the two refer to the same work, so readers need not search for them as two separate books.

Does this book have a Chinese translation or notes?

The source shows that this is an English eBook released by Project Gutenberg and does not mention a Chinese translation or notes, so readers need some English reading ability.

Is this book suitable as an introduction to Jack London?

Not very. It is the original English text without an introduction, and the narrative has a psychological and speculative character. If you are new to London, you may first read his better-known works and then come to this one.

Comments

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About the author

Jack London Author · American · 1876–1916

Jack London (1876–1916) was an American realist writer born in San Francisco; his original name was John Griffith Chaney. He left school early to make a living, worked as a sailor and a tramp, and once went to Alaska to search for gold. These hard experiences became an important source of his writing. His works cover a wide range of subjects and often focus on the harsh struggle for survival in the northern wilderness, the relationship between humans and animals, and the misery of the lower classes. His style is vigorous and forceful, his plots are tightly constructed, and his writing combines adventure with social criticism. His representative works include The Call of the Wild, The Sea-Wolf, White Fang and Martin Eden. The library holds 91 of his works, including White Fang, Martin Eden, The Iron Heel and The People of the Abyss. He wrote about 50 works in his lifetime and is one of the most widely translated American writers of the twentieth century.