All Gold Canyon by Jack London

Panning for gold in the mid-1800's.

Any fans of the HBO show Deadwood, will likely get a kick out of this story. 

My exposure to Jack London's naturalistic fiction has been quite limited but my esteem for his writing continues to steadily grow with each new story that I encounter. "All Gold Canyon" is  impressive for its poetic depiction of nature as this vastly beautiful space but also an untamable realm fraught with danger. The rugged wilderness demands both respect and caution. Individuals find themselves at the mercy of these powerful forces or their own animal brutishness. Metaphors and symbolism are often used to highlight thematic expression, underlying the social truths of surviving in these harsh environments. 

In this story, Jack London's 'American naturalism' is gritty and unsettling. Through a kind of scientific lens, there is a meticulous attention to detail and long descriptions of the natural setting. The plot is not very important here even though there are some interesting developments near the end. Rather, the author's main focus is to accurately portray the harsh conditions of life in this isolated canyon, where a prospector is searching for gold. This effective literary style and technique reinforces nature as this indomitable force where survival, resilience, and the symbiotic relationship between man and the natural world come in direct conflict.