The Scarlet Plague [Classic Tales Edition]

By: Jack London

Narrated by: B.J. Harrison

Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Twelve billionaires rule the United States, while those called freemen are forced to serve the rich. But that was 60 years ago, before the Scarlet Plague. In this post-apocalyptic novella, a ragged and tattered old man tells his progeny of what life was like before The Scarlet Plague appeared - and wiped out civilization as they knew it.

Public Domain (P)2016 B.J. Harrison

WOW, IMAGINE POST-APOCALYPTIC NOVEL WRITTEN IN 1912

This was far different from “The Call Of The Wild” and “White Fang.” Still, it was well thought out and somewhat believable. Since Jack London could not possibly be aware of the immense advances made by advanced civilizations, the world 60 years after the plague of 2013 would not be as savage as he portrays it. At least, I do not think so.

I certainly enjoyed both reading and at the same time listening to the story being narrated. The reader did a great job.

Captivating

An incredible read, one which may be added to my favorites. It's beautiful elegant and artful language alone is reason enough to read it. The depth of character and feelings conveyed within are rarely found in literature today, and are a treasured quality which many of today's writers could benefit to learn from.

Wonderful!!

Wonderful story, as always, Jack London, one of the best!!!! I'm hoping to find more of his works!!!

short read for the commute

It's an Interesting take on a possible dystopian world skillfully narrated from a deserted beach.

a good story

good story well read a bit dissappointed when done.
i would like to go on with the tale.

Good story until it broke the 4th wall.

Narrator was great, story going along well until the author broke the 4th wall to make a point about language. That brought me completely out of the story. Got back in, but it took a while.

Felt Like a Dated & Elitist Essay

This felt to me like a dated & elitist essay. Probably made worse since I had (coincidentally) just listened to The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, a nonfiction title about how things would go on earth if humans suddenly disappeared. London's book rang false to me in how the scenario played out. The cultural assumptions seem very dated (and were probably somewhat outdated even then). The human reversion to barbarity struck me more as colonialist nonsense then anything. Also, it seemed very elitist and snobbish with an almost worshipful portrayal of a formerly rich, "cultured" woman, in contrast to the "savages" who predominated. Hadn't thought of London as elitist, especially knowing he wrote the book "People of the Abyss" about the poor of 1902 London. Strangely, his treatment of nature seems more modern and closer to the mark than his socio-cultural analysis. Also, because of the way the book was structured, I found it somewhat dull, lacking in narrative tension. It read more like an essay to me. In spite of all of these shortcomings, I'm still giving it an overall 3 (though borderline) because it is still rather original and imaginative and because London does have writing skill. The narration is somewhat better than the book.

Great Short Story

I very much enjoyed this story.
The Scarlet Plague is a post-apocalyptic fiction novel and originally written around 1910.
The plague takes place in 2013! 100 years into the future from when it was written.

A view into the future

By all estimation this is a view into the future we don't ever want to see. I feels so realistic & worrisome

Interesting idea with some bumps

The overall concept of the book is good, but sometimes the story stalls which may be intentional because other characters in the story indicate that the narrator is droning on. Intentional or not, I found myself sometimes telling the narrator to hurry up which surprised me because I'm not generally an impatient reader/listener. Once the story was going, it was good. The narrator is inconsistent with their voice- It isn't a bad narration, but it also isn't the best.