The Valley of the Moon (California Fiction) [Paperback]

Jack London (Author)

Book Description

Series: California Fiction | Publication Date: June 29, 1999

A road novel fifty years before Kerouac, The Valley of the Moon traces the odyssey of Billy and Saxon Roberts from the labor strife of Oakland at the turn of the century through Central and Northern California in search of land they can farm independently--a journey that echoes Jack London's own escape from urban poverty. As London lost hope in the prospects of the socialist party and organized labor, he began researching a scientific and environmentally sound approach to farming. In his novel, it is Saxon, London's most fully realized heroine, who embodies these concerns. The Valley of the Moon is London's paean to his second wife Charmian and to the pastoral life and his ranch in Glen Ellen, the Valley of the Moon.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Far away from his snowy Yukon adventures, London set this 1913 novel in the warmth of California's green hills. It follows Billy and Saxon Roberts, who, after becoming disillusioned with labor difficulties, strike out on the road north to find a place where they can live close to the land. This edition sports a new foreword by California State Librarian Kevin Starr.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Jack London at his supreme best." -- Tillie Olsen

"London was--like Thomas Jefferson--a rational humanist and a scientific progressivist; he was also--like Jefferson--strongly enamored of the pastoral dream, seeing in the return to the land the possibilities of spiritual as well as physical regeneration." -- Earle Labor and Jeanne Campbell Reesman, "Jack London"

"London waslike Thomas Jeffersona rational humanist and a scientific progressivist; he was alsolike Jeffersonstrongly enamored of the pastoral dream, seeing in the return to the land the possibilities of spiritual as well as physical regeneration." -- Earle Labor and Jeanne Campbell Reesman, Jack London

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 436 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (June 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520218205
• ISBN-13: 978-0520218208
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #858,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!!, April 29, 2001

By 

Dave (Princeton, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Valley of the Moon (California Fiction) (Paperback)

I read this book after biking through a lot of the California towns London mentions. I pedaled through Glen Ellen and saw some of the missions. Since I am male, I could relate to the character of Billy. He is an early 20th century renaissance man. I never got bored with this book. It has a lot of personal meaning to me. I come from some of the "old stock" Billy and Saxon refer to. Tons of detail. I had to read it twice to get all the details. If you like northern California and want to know what it was like 100 years ago, read this.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Testament of Love, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Valley of the Moon (Paperback)

As in many of his books, Jack London enraptes the reader, but this time in a story of love. It is extremely refreshing because it shows the good side of true love without that sickening sweetness so many love stories have... I read this book a few years back and read it again just recently. I am SIXTEEN. This book is definetly one that many can enjoy, no matter your age.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars WARNING!, January 13, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Kyiv, Ukraine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Valley of the Moon (Paperback)

This book is a reprint of the 1913 edition published by Cosmopolitan Magazine. IT IS NOT A COMPLETE VERSION. Some parts, I think the most typical for Jack London, are absent. (For example sport games and fighting in Weasel Park, Chapter IV, are not present in this edition.)

I think the version can be used to comparative analysis by specialists in history of literature but if you want to take pleasure in reading I strongly recommend you to purchase another edition.