The Road

audiobook

The Road

by Jack London

EN·~4 hours·10 chapters

Chapters

10 total

(New York: Macmillan)

0:05

Confession

27:27

Holding Her Down

37:07

Pictures

25:56

"Pinched"

30:22

The Pen

30:05

Hoboes That Pass in the Night

37:35

Road-Kids and Gay-Cats

28:59

Two Thousand Stiffs

26:36

Bulls

36:30

Description

In the sweltering summer of 1892, a restless drifter wanders the rough streets of Reno, Nevada, a town teeming with hoboes, petty crooks, and desperate souls. He narrates his own confessions, recounting a reckless theft from a wealthy stranger and a lingering lie he told a woman he can’t even remember. The voice is raw and unflinching, painting a vivid picture of a world where survival hinges on quick wit and daring boldness. As the train whistles through the looming Sierras, his restless yearning for the West intensifies.

Facing hunger and rejection at every door, he discovers that the true generosity lies not in grand mansions but in the humble shacks by the creek, where a tired mother shares what little she has. His observations on charity and the stark contrast between the affluent and the destitute reveal a gritty moral landscape. The narrative balances humor, desperation, and a keen eye for the human condition, drawing listeners into the restless chase for a simple meal and a chance at redemption. It’s a snapshot of a lone wanderer’s struggle against an unforgiving frontier.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~4 hours (269K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

Jan 10, 2005

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Jack London

Jack London

1876–1916

Best known for vivid adventure stories like The Call of the Wild and White Fang, this American writer turned rough experience into fast-moving fiction about survival, nature, and human will. His life was as restless as his stories, stretching from waterfront jobs and gold-rush travel to worldwide fame.

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