Amateur Night by Jack London (1908)
The story revolves around a young man who becomes embroiled in the world of boxing and crime in New York City during the early 20th century. He navigates a complex web of relationships with various characters, including a woman involved in prostitution and a corrupt police officer. As he becomes more entrenched in this world, he begins to question his own morality and the true nature of those around him. The narrative explores themes of identity, class, and the American Dream, raising questions about the consequences of one's choices and the blurred lines between right and wrong. The protagonist's journey is marked by a series of intense confrontations with his environment, ultimately leading to a climactic showdown that forces him to confront the harsh realities of his situation.
By Jack London · First published 1908 · Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Realism · 6,237 words
First lines
The elevator boy smiled knowingly to himself. When he took her up, he had noted the sparkle in her eyes, the color in her cheeks. His little cage had quite warmed with the glow of her repressed eagerness. And now, on the down trip, it was glacier-like. The sparkle and the color were gone. She was frowning, and what little he could see of her eyes was cold and steel-gray. Oh, he knew the symptoms, he did. He was an observer, and he knew it, too, and some day, when he was big enough, he was going to be a reporter, sure. And in the meantime he studied the procession of life as it streamed up and down eighteen sky-scraper floors in his elevator car. He slid the door open for her sympathetically and watched her trip determinedly out into the street.
What this Textopian page supports
Amateur Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jack London, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jack London
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Realism, Social Commentary, Adventure
- Length: 6,237 words
- Structure: 1 section, 121 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Amateur Night by Jack London
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional story centered around a young woman's experiences and challenges in pursuing a career in journalism.
- Literary Fiction — The story explores themes of ambition, societal roles, and personal growth, with a focus on character development and introspection.
- Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of early 20th-century urban life and the struggles faced by women entering the workforce.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal norms and the barriers women face in professional environments, highlighting issues of gender and class.
Tags
Adventure · Coming-of-age · Fiction · Literary · Novel · Realism · Social commentary · Young adult · American literature · 19th century · Short story collection · Anthology