Bursting out of sunny, lush Californian meadows onto the porch of Walt and Madge Irvine, 'Wolf', the brown dog with the wild grace of a timber-wolf, instantly captures the hearts of his would-be owners. Despite the blissful living conditions and love lavished upon him, Wolf's trust proves hard-won,- he tirelessly attempts to return to the mirthless Klondike lands up North where his roots lie. When at last confronted with a ghost from his past, Wolf's canine conscience is compelled for the first time to deliberate upon the hearts of the humans that love him most. 'Brown' Wolf is a touching chronicle of a very special dog-wolf with a profound need to find his life’s purpose in an irrevocably human way. It is joined by 11 other exciting and adventurous short stories in this collection penned by Jack London. Jack London (1876-1916) was an American writer and social activist. He grew up in the working class, but became a worldwide celebrity and one of the highest paid authors of his time. He wrote several novels, which are considered classics today, among these 'Call of the Wild', 'Sea Wolf' and 'White Fang'.

John Griffith "Jack" London (born John Griffith Chaney, January 12, 1876 - November 22, 1916) was an American novelist, journalist, and social activist. A pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction, he was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone.Some of his most famous works include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life". He also wrote of the South Pacific in such stories as "The Pearls of Parlay" and "The Heathen", and of the San Francisco Bay area in The Sea Wolf.

There's a wolf in the woods and everyone says: "She's big and she's bad, she's old and she's hairy. Best leave her alone, she's mean and she's SCARY!" When the little animals hear that a big, bad wolf lives in their forest, they decide to get a closer look. Squirrel, Crow, Badger, and their friends sneak up on Grandma Wolf's house, where they find her fast asleep. Brave Piglet shouts, "What's the time, Grandma Wolf?" and the fun begins. All the animals take a turn asking the question, creeping closer and closer. As the excitement mounts, children will delight in discovering the surprise Grandma Wolf has in store for the curious animals. Author-illustrator Ken Brown's vivid watercolor illustrations perfectly complement this engaging and unexpected story. What's the Time, Grandma Wolf? is also based on a popular classic game. Readers can look in the back for the rules.

"The Woman of the Wolf, written in 1904, is probably Renée Vivien's finest achievement, the one work in which she combines powerful characters and exciting narratives with the poetic clarity of style and vision so apparent in her other works. In this collection of short stories and prose poems, Vivien manages to touch on all the themes and ideas that obsessed her throughout her short life." --from back cover

Brown WolfWhile living in sunny California, 'Brown Wolf', the dog-wolf is feeling the call of the wild nature of the desolate and frigid North. Neither the affection that surrounds him, nor the good living conditions can make him overcome his innermost desire to go back to his roots.

Near the horizon the sun was smouldering dimly, almost obscured by formless mists and vapors, which gave an impression of mass and density without outline or tangibility. The man pulled out his watch, the while resting his weight on one leg. It was four o’clock, and as the season was near the last of July or first of August, — he did not know the precise date within a week or two, — he knew that the sun roughly marked the northwest. He looked to the south and knew that somewhere beyond those bleak hills lay the Great Bear Lake; also, he knew that in that direction the Arctic Circle cut its forbidding way across the Canadian Barrens. This stream in which he stood was a feeder to the Coppermine River, which in turn flowed north and emptied into Coronation Gulf and the Arctic Ocean. He had never been there, but he had seen it, once, on a Hudson Bay Company chart...FROM THE BOOK.

Dogs serve us, adore us, entertain us, work for and with us, but most of all they warm our hearts. An homage to our canine companions, Great American Dog Stories presents a collection of enduring tales penned by an impressive array of authors. These are stories to laugh, weep, and shake your head over, knowing that the nature of dogs (and their human friends) has not altered in all the years since these stories were first written. Exemplars of unconditional love, dogs offer companionship without complaint and loyalty without a price. Whether these stories make you laugh or cry, they will also make you appreciate our most loyal friends. Great American Dog Stories is a rich treasury, filled with tales of unforgettable dogs, that will make a perfect gift for any dog lover. With contributions from O. Henry • Jack London • Stephen Crane • Bret Harte • and many others.