I just finished reading White Fang (1906), a novel by Jack London.

The story of White Fang’s life begins in the northern territories of Canada during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. Born to Old One Eye, a wolf, and Kiche, a wolf-dog, White Fang’s world slowly expands from the cave of his birth to the timber and rivers of the Yukon wilderness. Eventually he comes into contact with humans of varying character.

The story explores themes of the wild versus the civilized, instinct, violence, and the potential of love. Much thought is given to the effects biology and environment have upon the individual.

“He was justifying his existence, than which life can do no greater; for life achieves its summit when it does to the uttermost that which it was equipped to do.”