Martin Eden

The semiautobiographical Martin Eden is the most vital and original character Jack London ever created. Set in San Francisco, this is the story of Martin Eden, an impoverished seaman who pursues, obsessively and aggressively, dreams of education and literary fame. London, dissatisfied with the rewards of his own success, intended Martin Eden as an attack on individualism and a criticism of ambition; however, much of its status as a classic has been conferred by admirers of its ambitious protagonist.
Originally published in 1909, in this Jack London's novel Martin Eden addresses the author's internal conflict between his dream of a cooperative socialist utopia and his survival-of-the-fittest evolutionary views. Widely considered London's most mature work, the book abounds in memorable characters and settings as well as thought-provoking explorations of the nature of love, the importance of remaining true to personal aspirations rather than others' expectations, and the injustice of class divisions.