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Following in the Footsteps of a Literary Legend

by | Mar 14, 2024 | Authors, Travel

Barn, Fields and House at Jack London's 'Beauty Ranch'

Inspiration from Jack London at his Historic Home and Ranch

Dear Fellow Writers and Readers,

Have you ever felt so inspired by an author’s life that you were driven to pick up your pen with newfound determination? That’s exactly how I felt recently after visiting the beautiful Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma, California.

For those unfamiliar with Jack London, he was a phenomenally prolific and successful writer at the turn of the 20th century. Despite being born into poverty and receiving little formal education, London rose to international fame and fortune through his passionate storytelling and relentless work ethic. 

When you step onto the grounds of his former ‘Beauty Ranch’ estate, and into the Jack London museum located there, you can’t help but be awestruck by how much he accomplished in his brief 40 years. From publishing his first work at 17 to writing over 50 books, countless articles and short stories, London’s output alone is staggering. But it was his sheer grit and hunger to experience and understand the world that truly set him apart.

London didn’t just write about the Klondike — he lived it, joining the Gold Rush and surviving brutal Yukon winters to gather material for his eventual masterpieces The Call of the Wild and White Fang. He didn’t just fictionalize the harsh lives of sailors — he was a self-taught oyster pirate by 14, working boats up and down the Pacific coast from his home in the San Francisco Bay area. His celebrated sea novels like The Sea Wolf and The Pearls of Parlay were inspired by his own harrowing voyages across the Pacific.

“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” Jack London

From working as a war correspondent during the Russo-Japanese war to visiting leper colonies in Hawaii, London immersed himself in the most extreme conditions on earth to gather the experience that lend his words such authenticity. I felt inspired as I roamed the exhibit, filled with unique items, furniture, and visuals that showcased his adventurous and zestful nature.

“There’s only one way to make a beginning, and that is to begin; and begin with hard work, and patience, prepared for all the disappointments.” 

He thrived on work in the outdoors, and it seemed that he dived fully into every new activity that caught his fancy. As already mentioned, he was an accomplished sailor, but he also engaged in any number of other sports. He is even credited with popularizing surfing in his native California after being exposed to it during his travels through Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Those famous works mentioned above, and London’s prolific storytelling, made him one of the most popular and highest paid writers of his era. His writings were affording him a comfortable lifestyle and celebrity status by his mid-30s. 

At the height of his success he was earning the modern-day equivalent of $250,000 per month. When you see the sizeable Beauty Ranch property and the stately Wolf House he had started building before a tragic fire, you realize just how successful this son of a single mother had become through sheer talent and tireless effort. 

Wolf House, Jack London's dream home burned down just before moving in

But he didn’t spend his wealth on frivolous consumption, but rather in further exploits and experimentation, including the building of a sea-worthy sloop that he and his wife then sailed across the ocean to explore the then-mysterious islands and tribes of the south Pacific. The museum houses many of the items they collected on this voyage.

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” 

 In his later years, London developed a love for sustainable farming. He purchased worn-out farmland in Sonoma and turned it into the Beauty Ranch, where he dedicated himself to progressive agricultural techniques. He lamented the common practice of most farmers in the west of working-out a piece of land then abandoning it to start again on another. He became a leading proponent of sustainable farming techniques he’d observed in Korea and Japan and introduced to North America. He was an organic farmer before the term was even known.

Among his other ahead-of-his-time contributions, Jack London was also a life-long advocate for animal rights, probably inspired by the appalling cruelty he witnessed in the Klondike. This was epitomized on Beauty Ranch by his design and building of what became known as the “pig palace”, an ultra-sanitary pig barn that provided each of its 200 occupants with her own “apartment” with a porch and exercise area. He hoped it would prove a model for pig farmers across the land. It’s doubtful that goal was achieved.

Through it all, Jack’s second wife Charmian was a true partner in every sense. A talented writer herself, Charmian helped make their Sonoma hills home a writer’s paradise and sanctuary for creativity. The pair were a true power couple, challenging societal norms, living off the land, and fuelling each other’s crafts with an enviable creative synergy.

In an era when women were usually constrained by strict gender expectations, Charmian was Jack’s equal — a free-spirit who accompanied him on daring voyages, and went toe to toe with him in boxing matches. Along with her own writing, she typed his manuscripts, and continued championing his legacy until her own death 30+ years after his. Charmian’s dedication to protecting and promoting Jack’s works helped cement his place in the literary canon and ensure his writings would inspire generations to come. 

But more than that, Jack and Charmian were united by a shared philosophy of leading an active, outdoor lifestyle energized by physical pursuits. They routinely engaged in sports and recreation like horseback riding, swimming, hiking, boxing and tennis. Their zest for robust living was infectious, and their partnership is a reminder that finding the right collaborator can elevate our art to new heights.

And it was clear that they loved each other dearly. The quote below, from a letter he’d written her, is typical of many that are referenced in the museum.

Jack London died November 22, 1916, aged 40, of gastrointestinal uremic poisoning, following years of health problems including kidney trouble. There is some recent suspicion that mercury in the medicine he was taking had poisoned him.

Despite his love of outdoor activity he did not lead a healthy lifestyle in his later years. His doctors had urged him to change his work habits and diet, reduce alcohol intake and get more exercise. As is always the case with a creative life cut too short, one is left to wonder about the artistic jewels the world was denied by his early departure.

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.”

At closing time, I slowly drove away from this sanctuary of literary history and natural beauty as the sun dropped behind the Sonoma hills above. I was truly inspired by the example of a life well-lived by this literary legend whom I had little known to this point. I am inspired to work harder at my writing, live bolder, and never stop exploring. 

I hope you’ll be equally inspired by London’s legacy to commit to your craft with the same tenacity he embodied, and embrace an active lifestyle that fuels your creativity. 

Raise a glass of the ranch’s hearty red wine, and let’s get writing and experiencing and living as Jack London did!

Creatively Yours,

A.Q. Park

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