“[A] fine book . . . Auerbach, whose subject is the early London, argues nicely that from the very beginning London’s authenticity was ‘an effect of his writing and not its cause". . . Auerbach is quite convincing in reading virtually everything that London wrote, especially the dog stories that made him famous, as a parable of the author’s own agon of impotence.” — Kenneth Dauber , American Literary History
“[A] superb book . . . [Auerbach’s] rigorously argued study marks a large advance in depth and sophistication over any previous extended reading of London.” — Charles N. Watson Jr. , American Literary Realism
“Auerbach has written a book that should go some way toward promoting a reevaluation of Jack London’s works. . . . This is a very impressive book.” — Russell Harrison, American Literature
“The book as a whole is exemplary in its analysis of the interrelation between film noir and the social and political history of the 1940s and early 50s.” — Martin Fradley , Film Quarterly
"Auerbach’s account of the relationship between notions of citizenship, ideological alienation, and the production of film noir in mid-century America is both comprehensive and engaging…. Both insightful and unique in its undertaking, this book speaks openly and convincingly to the relationship between political agenda, disenfranchisement and art." — Laura Crawford , Media International Australia
“No other critic writing today is doing such interesting work on Jack London. Jonathan Auerbach offers a fascinating explanation of the process by which Jack London self-consciously fashioned himself as a professional writer and inscribed that process in his writings. Male Call delivers our most interesting account of London’s early career and the turn-of-the-century literary culture that helped make his career possible.” — Brook Thomas, University of California, Irvine