The Abysmal Brute by Jack London

Name: The Abysmal Brute
Author: Jack London

The novel revolves around a brutal and uneducated man who lives on the outskirts of society. He is a product of his environment and has been shaped by his circumstances. The story explores themes of savagery, civilization, and the struggle between these two opposing forces within human nature.

By Jack London · First published 1917 · Genre: Sports Fiction, Adventure, Social Commentary · 10 chapters · 28,658 words

First lines

Sam Stubener ran through his mail carelessly and rapidly. As became a manager of prize-fighters, he was accustomed to a various and bizarre correspondence. Every crank, sport, near sport, and reformer seemed to have ideas to impart to him. From dire threats against his life to milder threats, such as pushing in the front of his face, from rabbit-foot fetishes to lucky horse-shoes, from dinky jerkwater bids to the quarter-of-a-million-dollar offers of irresponsible nobodies, he knew the whole run of the surprise portion of his mail. In his time having received a razor-strop made from the skin of a lynched negro, and a finger, withered and sun-dried, cut from the body of a white man found in Death Valley, he was of the opinion that never again would the postman bring him anything that could startle him. But this morning he opened a letter that he read a second time, put away in his pocket, and took out for a third reading. It was postmarked from some unheard-of post-office in Siskiyou County, and it ran:

What this Textopian page supports

The Abysmal Brute is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jack London, dated 1917 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: 1917 CE
Language: English
Genres: Sports Fiction, Adventure, Social Commentary, Romance, Drama
Length: 28,658 words
Structure: 10 chapters, 505 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

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Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Abysmal Brute?
How does this novel by Jack London fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Sports Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Sports Fiction — The plot centers around the world of boxing, focusing on the protagonist's career and experiences in the sport.
Adventure — The narrative follows the protagonist's journey and challenges within the competitive and often dangerous world of boxing.
Social Commentary — The story critiques societal attitudes towards sports, fame, and the exploitation of athletes.
Romance — A subplot involves the protagonist's romantic relationship, which influences his decisions and character development.