London became one of the first American writers to achieve worldwide fame and considerable wealth through fiction alone. His most celebrated novel, The Call of the Wild (1903), tells the story of Buck, a domesticated dog who reverts to his primal instincts in the Alaskan wilderness. Other major works include White Fang (1906), The Sea-Wolf (1904), and the semi-autobiographical Martin Eden (1909), which explores the struggles of an ambitious writer. His short story "To Build a Fire" remains a classic of survival literature.
A committed socialist, London also addressed class conflict in novels such as The Iron Heel (1908). Despite his success, he struggled with health and financial problems and died at the age of 40. His vivid storytelling and enduring themes of survival, nature, and human willpower continue to captivate readers around the world.