Goliah by Jack London (1909)
The novel revolves around a giant of a man who lives on the outskirts of society, feared and avoided by those around him due to his immense size and strength. He is a solitary figure, with no family or friends, and exists outside of traditional social norms. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Goliah's isolation is not just physical but also emotional. He has been rejected by society and has learned to rely only on himself for survival. The novel explores themes of loneliness, rejection, and the human condition, raising questions about what it means to be a part of society and how we define ourselves in relation to others. Goliah's character serves as a commentary on the societal norms that dictate our behavior and interactions with one another. His size and strength make him an outcast, but they also serve as a metaphor for the ways in which we are all outsiders in some way or another. The novel ultimately presents a bleak view of human nature, suggesting that even those who appear to be the most powerful and dominant can still be vulnerable and isolated.
By Jack London · First published 1909 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Political Fiction · 11,547 words
First lines
In 1924 -- to be precise, on the morning of January 3 -- the city of San Francisco awoke to read in one of its daily papers a curious letter, which had been received by Walter Bassett and which had evidently been written by some crank. Walter Bassett was the greatest captain of industry west of the Rockies, and was one of the small group that controlled the nation in everything but name. As such, he was the recipient of lucubrations from countless cranks; but this particular lucubration was so different from the average ruck of similar letters that, instead of putting it into the waste-basket, he had turned it over to a reporter. It was signed "Goliah," and the superscription gave his address as "Palgrave Island. " The letter was as follows:
What this Textopian page supports
Goliah is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jack London, dated 1909 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: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Political Fiction, Adventure, Utopian
- Length: 11,547 words
- Structure: 1 section, 87 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Goliah 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
- What should a reader notice first when entering Goliah?
- How does this novel by Jack London fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Enemy Of All The World by Jack London
- Chun Ah Chun by Jack London
- A Curious Fragment by Jack London
- Like Argus Of The Ancient Times by Jack London
- The Strength Of The Strong by Jack London
- The Turtle by Leo Tolstoy
Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative involves advanced technology, futuristic concepts, and speculative ideas about societal transformation.
- Dystopian — The story explores themes of societal control, power dynamics, and the restructuring of society under a single authority.
- Political Fiction — The plot centers around political themes, including governance, societal reform, and the influence of power on global politics.
- Adventure — The narrative includes elements of exploration, mystery, and the protagonist's journey to an isolated island.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Novel · Classic · Literary · Philosophical · Psychological · Exploratory · Travelogue · Autobiographical · Coming-of-age · Self-discovery