- This edition includes the following editor's introduction: Jack London, an infinite passion for adventure that drove all his work
First published in 1917, “Jerry of the Islands” (also known as
“Jerry of the Islands: A True Dog Story”) is one of the last novels by American writer Jack London.
“Jerry of the Islands” narrates the story of Jerry, an Irish terrier who finds himself on the island of Malaita, a part of the Solomon Islands archipelago, after the ship he was on got attacked. Jerry is accepted by the local tribe, but when the tribe's sorcerer decides to sacrifice him, he manages to avoid it and his adventure begins.
Jerry's experiences reflect the cruelty and racism of colonial Melanesia.
“Jerry of the Islands” is a fascinating, unfairly unprized "
dog story" by the Master of wolf/dog stories. In fact, the hero of the novel was a brother of dog named Michael, about whom London wrote another novel - “Michael, Brother of Jerry.”