Martin Eden

By: Jack London

Narrated by: Andrew Garman

Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

Martin Eden, Jack London’s semiautobiographical novel, is about a struggling young writer. It is considered by many to be the author’s most mature work. Personifying London’s own dreams of education and literary fame as a young man in San Francisco, Martin Eden’s impassioned but ultimately ineffective battle to overcome his bleak circumstances makes him one of the most memorable and poignant characters Jack London ever created.

Public Domain (P)2012 Recorded Books

My favorite Jack London book.

well narrated. recording is clear. a nice listen on a long drive. highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who likes Jack London.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Amazing

A masterpiece. Happy. Sad. Inspiring. Dooming. A man lives by purpose and what is to happen once purpose is realized? A book you will never forget. Plumbing the depths and heights of a life.

My most favorite book of all time.

Would you listen to Martin Eden again? Why?

I've read this book in my late teen years and it has changed my life.
I'm not a huge fun of audio books as the narrator usually stands in the way.
But this one was incredibly good! I loved the narration!
Well done!

What did you like best about this story?

A must read if you are an aspiring artist

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes.

Not your typical Jack London

Any additional comments?

I found this book very interesting, partly because of my curiosity about London, himself. It is a loosely autobiographical novel that gives a real insight into the mind of London concerning his writing. The book is entirely about a young struggling author and all the obstacles and frustration in trying to get published and to be successful.
The book also gives an historical and fascinating look into the harshness and class stratification of the turn of the 20th Century.
This is not at all a typical London adventure story and might disappoint someone looking for that genre. It is however an excellent and memorable book as would be expected by a writer of London's stature.

Splendid!

Must read book for the people from all ways of life, compels one to think and act, shows protagonist's straggles that makes your own just trifles, teaches not to be a "self-deluded pretender".

Narrated well, vividly described character of M.E.

An interesting book which takes us deep into the thoughts and mental models of the protagonists and how it changes/grows over time with experiences.
Audible version is advisable as it is a long book and the narrator has done a splendid job of reading it.
There were parts that were dark but Martin Eden's persistence was motivational. The book felt like a window into Jack Langdon's own life, how else could he write and feel this way about a man worshiping literature and struggling to make a mark on it.
The book idealizes individualism and vividly paints how it is intertwined and also at a constant struggle with the society. The protagonist's character while marked with youthful energy, generosity and artistry, is also flawed with superficial love, impulsive aggression and depression.

The ultimate end of all secular materialism

As an eccentric career artist, and also having an MLA in Philosophy, I identified greatly with the character of Martin Eden.

So often, the dogma of the cynic, pretending to his integrity, but unable to bring its own end about, and shrinking under the potency thereof, will undulate upon convictions; ever learning, but never actually learning.

Martin is the fruit of philosophy--- which, has never once, given a single man the smallest part of what it dissimulated in its offerings.

I see a deep Truth in this story.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful