John Barleycorn or Alcoholic Memoirs

Description

Jack London was a prolific author whose struggles with alcohol and his own demons and perception of life was analyzed by many critics throughout the years. However, none of them are as brutal in their depiction of London’s life as the author himself, in his autobiographical memoir John Barleycorn or Alcoholic Memoirs.

John Barleycorn is a fictional character who first appeared in an old British folksong, and became widely known in the early 18th century. It is the personification of the cereal barley in its use for preparing various alcoholic beverages such as beer and whiskey. While the classic John Barleycorn was depicted as suffering various attacks and indignities representative of the stages that barley goes through during the alcohol preparation process, London uses the character in an entirely unique way throughout his autobiography.

In London’s Alcoholic Memoirs, he describes his own life as seen through the eyes of John Barleycorn. Vivid recollections, detailed introspective comments and brutal honesty dominates this exceptional work, taking a modern stance on autobiographical presentations that was unheard of at that time.

London’s life in and of itself will keep you reading wide-eyed throughout all the pages, as you find out about his difficult childhood, lower class surrounding and the amazing adventures he later took part in during his youth. His knowledge, his remarkable initiative and… his love for getting intoxicated with alcohol, are all present in a brilliantly written memoir that will challenge the way you see life.

Jack London was an illustrious American author who produced more than 200 works, some of which – like White Fang, The Sea Wolf or The Call of the Wind – are still renowned worldwide today.
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