To Kill a Man by Jack London (1906)
The novel revolves around the struggle for survival and power between two men, one of whom is a ruthless and cunning individual who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The story takes place in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. The protagonist is a man driven by a desire for wealth and status, while the other character is a more primitive and instinctual figure who represents a threat to the former's ambitions. As the novel progresses, the tension between these two characters builds, culminating in a violent confrontation that has far-reaching consequences. Through this narrative, the author explores themes of human nature, morality, and the effects of societal pressures on individual behavior.
By Jack London · First published 1906 · Genre: Crime, Drama, Psychological · 6,050 words
First lines
THOUGH dim night-lights burned, she moved familiarly through the big rooms and wide halls, seeking vainly the half-finished book of verse she had mislaid and only now remembered. When she turned on the lights in the drawing-room, she disclosed herself clad in a sweeping negligee gown of soft rose-colored stuff, throat and shoulders smothered in lace. Her rings were still on her fingers, her massed yellow hair had not yet been taken down. She was delicately, gracefully beautiful, with slender, oval face, red lips, a faint color in the cheeks, and blue eyes of the chameleon sort that at will stare wide with the innocence of childhood, go hard and gray and brilliantly cold, or flame up in hot wilfulness and mastery.
What this Textopian page supports
To Kill a Man is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jack London, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Crime, Drama, Psychological, Suspense, Social Commentary
- Length: 6,050 words
- Structure: 1 section, 154 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for To Kill a Man by Jack London
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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- Where does Crime first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Crime — The plot revolves around a burglary, with themes of crime, justice, and moral ambiguity.
- Drama — The story explores complex human emotions and moral dilemmas, focusing on character interactions and personal conflicts.
- Psychological — The narrative delves into the psychological motivations and inner thoughts of the characters, particularly the burglar and the woman.
- Suspense — The tension between the characters and the uncertainty of the outcome create a suspenseful atmosphere.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic · Novel · Social Commentary · Moral Allegory · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis · Existentialism · Philosophical