The Iron Heel

The Iron Heel

The Iron Heel (1908), by Jack London, is a dystopian novel set in the future of the United States. It tells the story of a revolution against a oppressive oligarchy, led by the eponymous Iron Heel. The novel follows Avis Everhard, a socialist and the wife of the leader of the revolution, as she struggles to survive in a world where the powerful few oppress the many. Through Avis' struggles, London paints a vivid portrait of a society divided between the haves and the have-nots, and the sacrifices that must be made for freedom. The Iron Heel is a timeless classic that has inspired generations of writers and activists and remains an important work of literature in the modern era. Jack London (1876-1916) is one of the most renowned adventure and fiction authors in history, known for works such as The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and The Sea Wolf. He was born John Griffith Chaney on January 12, 1876 in San Francisco, California. London was the illegitimate son of astrologer William Chaney and Flora Wellman, a spiritualist and journalist. His mother married John London shortly after Jack's birth, and the family moved to Oakland, California. London's writing career began at the age of 17, when he worked as a reporter for the Oakland Herald. He then left school and began working aboard a sealing schooner, an adventure he later wrote about in The Sea Wolf . Later, he joined the Klondike Gold Rush and had a variety of experiences which he wrote about in his stories and novels. In 1900, London published his first novel, The Son of the Wolf . This was followed by a series of highly successful novels and stories, such as The Call of the Wild and White Fang . His works often featured themes of nature, adventure, and survival against extreme odds. London was also a socialist, and many of his works reflect his views on politics, social justice, and the environment. Jack London died of a kidney ailment on November 22, 1916 in Glen Ellen, California. He is remembered as one of the greatest authors of his time and his works continue to be widely read today.