How Jack London Became a Socialist

Cocktails & Capitalism

In this episode, we discuss Jack London's evolution into a socialist. After living the rough life of a sailor, London once again found himself forced into wage slavery to feed his family. Having toiled for long, tedious hours in a jute mill, London left his job and began shoveling coal for a railway company. With two sprained wrists, London continued this agonizing work until he realized that he had replaced two workers who had both been paid more than he was receiving. Learning that one of these workers had committed suicide after losing his job, London began to comprehend the brutality of capitalist competition and exploitation.
During the worst economic downturn that America had ever experienced--when unemployment had reached 20%--London turned away from the life of wage slavery. He joined a protest march to Washington to demand the passage of a jobs creation program. Soon he found himself "hoboing" across the country, living the life of a vagrant and refining his storytelling abilities in order to tell convincing stories in an attempt to beg for food. This is the period during which London first discovered socialism--a concept introduced to him by a fellow "hobo".
After reaching the Niagara Falls, London was arrested for vagrancy and sent to the Erie County Penitentiary for 30 days, where he learned to control the prison barter system that dealt primarily with the exchange of bread and cigarettes. Describing his manipulation of this prison economy, London would write that "Oh, we were wolves, believe me--Just like the fellows who do business in Wall Street."
EPISODE COCKTAIL: The Jack London Martini
3 oz currant vodka (or 1.5 vodka, 1.5 creme de cassis)
1 oz white apertif wine (Lillet or Dubonnet blanc)
.5 oz marachino liqueur (not marachino cherry juice--this is a complex liqueur made from the cherry pits)
Shake, strain, and enjoy!

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