Martin Eden

Martin Eden, published in 1909, is Jack London’s powerful semi-autobiographical novel about an uneducated sailor who strives to become a successful writer. Driven by love and ambition, Martin educates himself and fights against class barriers and literary rejection. As he ascends, he becomes disillusioned with materialism and the intellectual elite. The novel critiques capitalism, individualism, and artistic authenticity. With its raw emotion and tragic arc, Martin Eden remains one of London’s most personal and enduring works.