Martin EdenMartin Eden
Score Classic
What it's about
Martin Eden is a rough young sailor in Oakland when he meets Ruth Morse, a refined university woman, and falls for her and her world. Determined to be worthy of her, he teaches himself grammar, philosophy and literature, and sets out to become a writer, starving and rejected for years. Success, when it finally comes, doesn't feel the way he hoped.
Why it's worth reading
It's on Le Monde's list of the 100 books of the century and is Jack London's most personal novel, drawn from his own climb from poverty to fame. It's a passionate, bitter story about ambition and class.
You'll love it if you liked
The Call of the Wild
The Great Gatsby
East of EdenGood to know
The ending is famously bleak. There are long passages of philosophy that some readers skim. A 2019 Italian film moves the story to Naples.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Jack London
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of Repose
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Quick answers
Is Martin Eden worth reading?
Yes. It's on Le Monde's list of the 100 books of the century and is Jack London's most personal novel, drawn from his own climb from poverty to fame. It ranks #670 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Martin Eden about?
Martin Eden is a rough young sailor in Oakland when he meets Ruth Morse, a refined university woman, and falls for her and her world. Determined to be worthy of her, he teaches himself grammar, philosophy and literature, and sets out to become a writer, starving and rejected for years. Success, when it finally comes, doesn't feel the way he hoped.
How long does it take to read Martin Eden?
About 12 hours (480 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Martin Eden?
If you liked it, try The Call of the Wild by Jack London, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or East of Eden by John Steinbeck.