Lost Face

Seven stories of cold, cunning and survival from the author of The Call of the Wild. In the title story, a Polish exile held captive by the Nulato Indians in Russian Alaska must use his wits to escape a slow death. In To Build a Fire, a newcomer to the Yukon learns too late that the cold does not forgive mistakes. Elsewhere, a man keeps a promise to carry a friend's bag out of the Klondike at any cost, a handsome sled dog refuses to work and refuses to be got rid of, a woman called Flush of Gold waits in a lonely cabin, a mining-camp judge drifts into legend, and a proud young woman sells herself at auction to pay her father's debts.

Jack London wrote from experience: he had sailed, prospected for gold in the Klondike and worked rough jobs before he became famous. These stories show his gift for swift action, sharp character and endings that surprise yet feel inevitable.

This edition contains the complete text of Lost Face, a new introduction, a character guide, a summary of each story, notes on themes, a glossary of period and regional words, and discussion questions for book clubs and students.