The Scarlet Plague

Jack London

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post apocalyptic world

human behavior in crises

vivid writing style

character exploration

cyclical nature of history

narrative styles

foundational post apocalyptic fiction

slow pacing

In "The Scarlet Plague" by Jack London, the story is set in a post-apocalyptic world in 2073, where an old man recounts the devastating effects of the eponymous plague that wiped out most of the world's population. The novella follows the protagonist as he navigates a depopulated California with his grandsons, reminiscing about the world before the plague and the struggles of survival in the aftermath. London's writing style paints a vivid picture of a society in collapse, showcasing the rapid spread of the disease and the breakdown of civilization, while also delving into themes of regression, class inequalities, and the cyclical nature of history.

Characters:

Characters reflect a broad spectrum of human nature in crises, each embodying different societal roles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is clear and evocative, capturing the gravity of its themes while blending narrative styles.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows the aftermath of a global plague that leads to societal collapse, reflecting on human behavior during crises.

Setting:

The backdrop shifts between a dystopian future and a haunting recollection of the modern world.

Pacing:

The novella's pacing allows for deep character exploration, though it may feel slow to some.

The old man peered from under his green leaf at the danger, and stood as quietly as the boy. For a few seconds this mutual scrutinizing went on; then, the bear betraying a growing irritability, the bo...

Notes:

The Scarlet Plague was written by Jack London and published in 1912.

The story is set in a future San Francisco in 2073, reflecting on a pandemic that occurred in 2013.

It depicts a world where a deadly plague wipes out most of humanity, leaving only a handful of survivors.

The protagonist, Granser, tells the story to his grandchildren, who live in a primitive society after civilization's collapse.

The novella explores themes of societal structure and class consciousness, showing both the failures of the upper classes and the harsh realities of survival.

London's predictions regarding the world population were surprisingly accurate, estimating around 8 billion in 2010.

The book critiques the idea of progress, suggesting that advancements can come at a moral and social cost.

The writing reflects a transition from civilization to savagery, focusing on the behavior of people during the plague.

The story addresses how quickly knowledge can be lost after a societal collapse, highlighting generational differences in understanding.

The work has been described as one of the first examples of post-apocalyptic fiction.

London integrates elements of class struggle and social injustice throughout the narrative, with the protagonist's background influencing his perspective.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The novella contains themes of violence and societal collapse, as well as some disturbing depictions of human behavior in crisis.

From The Publisher:

Dystopian Plague Classic! The year is 2072, and the earth has been depopulated by a plague epidemic that struck in 2013. The victims of the scarlet plague are dead within an hour or less of the first symptoms appearing. The plague is so swift that research laboratories are wiped out even as scientists are racing toward a cure. As panic spreads, order breaks down and looting and carnage reign. Broadcast stations fall silent. Aircraft fall from the sky as their pilots succumb. 60 years later an old man, Professor James Howard Smith, scrambles along overgrown railway tracks. He attempts to pass the flame of knowledge to his reluctant grandsons, who have known only a savage existence in an overgrown world - its graphic detail, vivid word-pictures, and remarkable prophetic accuracy make The Scarlet Plague one of the most memorable post-holocaust dystopian stories ever written. In a world of Swine Flu, germ-warfare and genetic splicing it makes the Scarlet Plague just that much more scary.

Reader Stats (4):

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Want To Read (3)

1 comment(s)

laucat067

8 months

DNF @58%

20 minutes from the end, it would almost be easier to just finish it—it's not really a slog—but it's so

bad that I don't want it on my Year in Review.

The opening paragraph is this beautiful description of overgrown railroad tracks, and there is some novelty both in seeing how someone in the early 20th century might envision both the 21st century and an apocalyptic plague (germ theory!),

and I suppose there's a certain novelty in reading about the Bay Area/Northern California (where I grew up) as the setting....but those are the only good things about the story. The characters are an old man who cries over his food and his "savage" grandchildren, and the story is the old man recounting how the scarlet plague unfolded. It's not a difficult read, but it's boring and unbelievable on both character and plot levels, without any beautiful prose to distract. No desire to see how it ends.

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