Buck is a dog, kidnapped from his home and forced into slavery as a sled dog. As Buck slowly loses his “civilization” (that is, his domestication) and becomes wild and feral, he has a series of adventures that are heartbreaking in their constant cruelty, but his final fate as a member of a wild pack of wolves isn’t a tragedy. London’s powerful story is iconic for a reason, of course, and is required reading for anyone wondering who they would be if stripped of the modern conveniences.