62 pages • 2 hours read
Jack LondonMartin Eden
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1909A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Martin Eden by Jack London, a young sailor named Martin Eden saves upper-class Arthur Morse and is introduced to Arthur's cultured world and his sister, Ruth, whom Martin falls in love with. Determined to improve himself for Ruth, Martin self-educates and pursues a writing career but faces significant challenges and rejection. Despite eventual literary success, Martin is disillusioned with fame and struggles with existential despair. The novel examines themes of social class, education, and the emptiness of fame and includes depictions of depression and suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Jack London's Martin Eden has been praised for its compelling exploration of individualism and the struggles of self-education. Readers appreciate the protagonist's perseverance and the novel's critique of class disparities. However, some find the narrative bleak and the character of Martin Eden difficult to empathize with at times, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
Who Should Read Martin Eden?
Readers who enjoy introspective explorations of ambition, individualism, and social class will be captivated by Jack London's Martin Eden. Comparable to works like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, this novel appeals to those intrigued by the complexities of personal transformation and societal critique.