A Daughter of the Snows

‘A Daughter of the Snows’ is acclaimed author Jack London’s debut novel as well as the novel that began his trademark passion for the frozen Yukon. In this powerful debut, we follow Frona Welse, an incredibly determined and forthright woman as she returns to her small Canadian home town after graduating from Stanford. In this small community she faces prejudice, harassment and exclusion, but her impressive personality soon attracts many suitors and she finds herself in the midst of a love triangle.

When she upsets her father’s wealthy community after befriending the local prostitute, she takes to the trail to find herself among the mountains. It is a brilliant read, particularly for its brilliant heroine and the beautiful world building emblematic of London’s writing mastery. If you love strong heroines like Charlize Theron’s ‘Furiosa’ in Mad Max, you’ll love this novel. Jack London (1876–1916) was a pioneer, novelist, journalist and social activist. London was one of the first American authors to become an international celebrity thanks to his pioneering work in commercial fiction and magazines. Additionally he is accredited as a major innovator in the genre we now know as science fiction. Growing up in a working class background and spending several years homeless, he was a passionate fighter for workers’ rights, socialism, unionisation and animal rights. He would go on to be one of the highest paid authors in America thanks to his classics such as ‘Call of the Wild’, ‘White fang’ and ‘Sea Wolf’.