Author Jack London lived a life of adventure and travel. From a childhood of poverty in San Francisco to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897, London took his experiences and transformed them into compelling fiction. 'The Call of the Wild' and 'White Fang' made London the most popular American author of his generation. Literary critics now recognize the talent behind his clearly written adventure tales. Listen to learn more about the extraordinary life of this adventurous, hard working man.
Story Length: 4:54
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April 6, 2014
8:54
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel “The Great Gatsby” has inspired many adaptations. From film to opera, this story of wealth, love and reinvention in the Jazz Age has stood the test of time. In 2013 the most recent and epic film adaptation was released. It includes scenes in 3D and music from rap artist Jay-Z. Director Baz Luhrmann shaped the film and its production around Fitzgerald’s writing style and contemporary subject matter. Listen to learn more about how F. Scott Fitzgerald’s style shines through in this contemporary retelling.
Read MoreDecember 20, 2013
7:46
In "The Great Gatsby" F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about the life of the rich and glamorous during the Roaring Twenties. But what happened to the author when the carefree splendor of the 1920s ended and the nation was plunged into the Great Depression? The 1930s were not kind to Fitzgerald or his wife Zelda. The Fitzgeralds moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where the author continued to look for inspiration in the hopes of making a comeback. Listen to learn more about the fate of this glamorous couple of the Jazz Age after the stock market crash.
Read MoreDecember 10, 2013
5:07
The California Gold Rush of 1849 inspired thousands of prospective gold miners to move to California in search of wealth. The Gold Rush peaked in 1852, but people still find gold in California rivers. When the U.S. economy was in a recession in 2007 and 2008, gold prices started to rise and a new generation of gold prospectors headed to California. Listen to hear from these modern day prospectors and learn what drives them in their search for treasure!
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