The Call of the Wild Summary

Once living a relaxed life in California's Santa Clara Valley, a strong canine named Buck, who is a hybrid of St. Bernard and sheepdog, is suddenly thrust into hardship. His life is interrupted by the gold rush in Canada's Klondike region, which brings about a high demand for robust dogs to pull sleds. Buck is stolen from his home by a gardener and sold to dog traders who brutally train him to obey commands and then transport him to the icy Klondike region.

On arriving in the cold North, Buck is shocked by the harshness he encounters. He witnesses the brutal death of a fellow dog, Curly, at the hands of a pack of huskies, a sight that strengthens his resolve to survive. Buck becomes a sled dog for Francois and Perrault, mail carriers for the Canadian government. He reawakens his wild instincts, learning to fight, forage, and survive the harsh winter nights. He also finds himself in a power struggle with Spitz, the pack's lead dog, which culminates in a fatal fight that allows Buck to take over as leader. Despite achieving record time on their runs, the team is sold to a mail carrier who overworks them, leading to the death of one dog.

Buck's new owners, American gold hunters named Hal, Charles, and Mercedes, are woefully unprepared for the wilderness lifestyle, leading to a disastrous journey where food shortage and extreme exhaustion kill off most of the team. Buck, among the surviving dogs, is rescued by John Thornton before the owners plunge into a melting ice patch, resulting in their deaths. Buck grows a strong bond with Thornton, saving him from various dangers and even winning a hefty wager for him by pulling an impossible load. However, Buck increasingly feels a pull towards the wild. He explores further into the wilderness, befriending wolves and hunting large game, always returning to Thornton until one day he finds his master killed by the Yeehat Indians. Devastated, Buck takes revenge on the Indians and then retreats into the wild, where he becomes a legendary "Ghost Dog", leading a wolf pack and fathering numerous offspring. Despite his wild life, he returns annually to mourn his beloved master at the site of his death.