Jack London: Born a Badass

Cocktails & Capitalism

In this episode, we begin to tell the story of Jack London's crazy life--a story that shows his evolution into a socialist. Along the way, we introduce some of the concepts that are fundamental to the political economic views of both Jack London and Karl Marx.
Born to spiritualist parents who had less to do with his upbringing than the ex-slave who became his wet nurse and mother figure, Jack London would soon become a force to be reckoned with.
From his earliest days, Jack was haunted by hunger. This urge forced him into a life of backbreaking labor. Working on farms and in factories instead of enjoying a childhood of play, Jack knew how to sell his strength to buy basic bodily sustenance. Still, he quickly became sick of endless labor for pathetic wages.
At the age of 15, Jack abandoned honest work to embrace a life crime. Pillaging the oyster beds in the San Francisco Bay, Jack brought in more money than he could ever hope for as a wage slave. He made a killing as a self-proclaimed "pirate capitalist," expending his wealth on glorious drunken debauchery in the Oakland saloons. He was quickly dubbed the "Prince of the Oyster Pirates," but as with most of his endeavors, he soon became disenchanted with this method of making a living.
Tune in to hear about the incredible twists and turns that comprised the childhood and adolescence of Jack London. Stay tuned to hear the rest of his incredible story in future episodes..
Photo from Russ Kingman's book, A Pictorial Life of Jack London

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