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

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.

Well worth the time

Great writing, thought-provoking, vast in scope, an ideas book with interesting characters. Not plot driven. so don't expect that.

Really Enjoyable

great to be able to listen to such writings as Jack London...I don't have the time to read but being able to listen to some of the legendary works is a privilege.

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.

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.

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.

A superb book with a sad ending!!

This is one of the most inspiring book about self growth and self development I have ever read.

Amazing resilience in order to achieve your dreams.

The powerful impact of a romantic spiritual love.

Only the ending is very frustrating and definitely not my favourite.

However making dreams come true for your family and friends is very very inspiring!!

A great book overall!!

A great classic with an unexpected ending!

"But I am I. And I won't subordinate my taste to the unanimous judgment of mankind." Martin Eden by Jack London


It has been years since I read Jack London's other works such as White Fang and The Call Of The Wild. This book was suggested to me by a friend and with most of the classics, I enjoy listening to it as an Audiobook. I was a little overwhelmed at first with London's prose. They were beautiful and poetic, but sometimes I found them a little enigmatic.

Jack London's Martin Eden takes us into the life of Martin Eden. A young man in his 20's living in San Francisco around the beginning of the 20th century. Martin Eden who is part of the working class and a sailor, and who is a little rough around the edges, falls in love with a woman who is in a higher social class than he. This initiates a journey by Martin Eden to win her affections by bettering himself through self education by reading a multitude of books which encourages him to become a writer. But Eden's journey is not what he expects and this book follows his ideas, his growth, his personal search, his gains, and his losses as Jack London looks at Social class and Individualism versus Socialism through the eyes of Martin Eden.

Jack London gives you quite a bit to think about in this book along with some humor while pulling you into Martin Eden's world and connecting you to the character's. As I said before, Jack London's prose were poetic and deep, but sometimes I struggled to understand some of it as the book was written in 1909 and London does tend to repeat some of the things he writes quite a few times in a short period. But the writing wasn't so enigmatic that you couldn't follow along. You just have to give into it and just flow along with the current of the book. I found myself really connecting and understanding what Martin Eden felt and was going through. It is also interesting to compare the time when this book was written to the current time and seeing the similarities and how some things have not changed in our society since then. Jack London has done a superb job with this book and Andrew Garman lended a wonderful voice talent to the narration.

Fantastic

Jack London's MARTIN EDEN is one of the most fascinating novels I have ever listened to. It is also one of those rare novels where I can identify closely with the main character. It is also one of those books where the reader is hooked from page one and entirely swept up in the world London Creates. Also, Andrew Garman's performance it fantastic.

A very good book.

I like this book, but it is a bit heavy. It is about philosophy, love and life. Read it.

All of life

All of life is here in the form of hero and anti-hero Martin Eden. It takes a good writer to make you love a character, and Jack London was more than good. Members of the bourgeoisie be warned - you don’t come out of this story looking good.