Publisher's Synopsis
John Barleycorn is a memoir written by Jack London, published in 1913. The book is a semi-autobiographical account of London's struggles with alcoholism, and his journey to overcome it. The title of the book is based on an old English folk song about the personification of barley and its transformation into beer.London explores his relationship with alcohol, from his first drink as a young boy to his early days as a writer, when he believed that drinking was essential to his creativity. He describes his experiences with alcohol-induced hallucinations, blackouts, and violent outbursts, as well as the negative impact his drinking had on his relationships and career.Throughout the book, London reflects on the societal and cultural factors that contributed to his alcoholism, including the prevalence of drinking in American culture and the romanticization of alcohol in literature and art. He also discusses the physical and psychological effects of alcohol on the body and mind, and the science behind addiction.Despite the heavy subject matter, John Barleycorn is not a depressing read. London's writing is engaging and introspective, and he injects humor and wit into his anecdotes. The book is a powerful and honest exploration of addiction and recovery, and a valuable resource for anyone struggling with alcoholism or interested in the history and science of alcohol.It all came to me one election day. It was on a warm California afternoon, and I had ridden down into the Valley of the Moon from the ranch to the little village to vote Yes and No to a host of proposed amendments to the Constitution of the State of California. Because of the warmth of the day I had had several drinks before casting my ballot, and divers drinks after casting it.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
