Burning Daylight by Jack London

Name: Burning Daylight
Author: Jack London

The novel is a historical fiction account of the Klondike Gold Rush. It follows the life of a young man from the Yukon who becomes a successful prospector and entrepreneur. The story spans several decades, exploring themes of survival, perseverance, and the human condition in the face of harsh environments and societal pressures.

By Jack London · First published 1910 · Genre: Adventure, Western, Romance · 40 chapters · 134,419 words

First lines

It was a quiet night in the Shovel. At the bar, which ranged along one side of the large chinked-log room, leaned half a dozen men, two of whom were discussing the relative merits of spruce-tea and lime-juice as remedies for scurvy. They argued with an air of depression and with intervals of morose silence. The other men scarcely heeded them. In a row, against the opposite wall, were the gambling games. The crap-table was deserted. One lone man was playing at the faro-table. The roulette-ball was not even spinning, and the gamekeeper stood by the roaring, red-hot stove, talking with the young, dark-eyed woman, comely of face and figure, who was known from Juneau to Fort Yukon as the Virgin. Three men sat in at stud-poker, but they played with small chips and without enthusiasm, while there were no onlookers. On the floor of the dancing-room, which opened out at the rear, three couples were waltzing drearily to the strains of a violin and a piano.

What this Textopian page supports

Burning Daylight is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jack London, dated 1910 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Jack London
Date: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Western, Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction
Length: 134,419 words
Structure: 40 chapters, 1,755 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Burning Daylight by Jack London
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Burning Daylight?
How does this novel by Jack London fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — The narrative focuses on the protagonist's thrilling exploits and survival in the wilderness.
Western — Set during the Klondike Gold Rush, it features themes typical of Westerns, such as frontier life and rugged individualism.
Romance — The story includes a significant romantic subplot that influences the protagonist's decisions.
Drama — The book explores the protagonist's internal struggles and moral dilemmas.