From the back flap of The Star Rover:
JACK LONDON (1876-1916) rose from a life of poverty to become one of America's most popular and highest paid authors. Before he turned to writing, London had been in turn oyster pirate, seaman, seal hunter, and hobo. Later he was able to draw upon these experiences for his novels, winning literary fame and a lasting reputation with such works as The Call of the Wild, The Sea Wolf, and White Fang.