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To Build a Fire  By  cover art

To Build a Fire

By: Jack London
Narrated by: Peter Husmann
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Publisher's summary

"He travels fastest who travels alone...but not after the frost has dropped below zero 50 degrees or more." (Yukon Code)

Jack London’s best short story.

Public Domain (P)2013 Trout Lake Media

What listeners say about To Build a Fire

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    695
  • 4 Stars
    241
  • 3 Stars
    65
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    12
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    219
  • 3 Stars
    67
  • 2 Stars
    14
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    13
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    612
  • 4 Stars
    187
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    8

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Well....

Short. I expected that. About a dog and a man expected that. No spoilers here...But the dog was smarter than the man! LOL Ya, I should have expected that! Good narrator.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Simple Lesson Worth Fifty Cents

The rational, egotistic mind of man contrasted with the instinctive mind of dog: a short lesson worth remembering.

The narration ought to have been in a more minor key, so to speak--it was a little too upbeat for the theme of this title. But hey, it's Jack London--find some pocket change and enjoy an evening's read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mi primer cuento de London

Me gustó el manejo de los símbolos: del fuego, el conocimiento, la vida y el instinto.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love the story. Needs a different narrator.

This is a somber story and needs a narrator to read it in a somber tone. The narrator was way too theatrical. Almost sing-song like. Too bad.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping Short Story

An interesting look at man vs. wild and the perils of being caught in the cold.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Doesn't get old...

I read this story for the time 30 years ago at college in a lit class and it made quite an impression on me. I've reread it a handful of times since and just listened to it again... Haunting and beautifully crafted.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Bad story

It is depressing and sooooo confusing!! But the reader did well.........I wish the author had a less depressing story line

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

To build a fire

Classic London story as in it takes place in the Yukon Territory alongside cold and other threats. Oh, and of course, the main character is accompanied by a dog. Also classic London in that it details human alienation from nature and dependency on technologies. Evident in the end when the dog is able to safely find another camp.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • JB
  • 01-01-20

Gripping

The story is gripping and fascinating. A man dealing with the unforgiving brutality of nature just doing its thing. The narrator is very effective in his delivery.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It truly makes you feel the cold.

I loved this author's take on the freezing cold and it's effects on the body and mind. The narrator did quite a fine job of translating some of the emotion of the man when he became confused as to what the weather did to his body.

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