Page 1 of 172 - The Iron Heel

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Iron Heel, by Jack London

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

This etext was prepared by Donald Lainson, charlie@idirect.com.

THE IRON HEEL

by Jack London

"At first, this Earth, a stage so gloomed with woe

You almost sicken at the shifting of the scenes.
And yet be patient. Our Playwright may show

In some fifth act what this Wild Drama means."

CONTENTS

FORWARD

I. MY EAGLE

II. CHALLENGES

III. JOHNSON'S ARM

IV. SLAVES OF THE MACHINE

V. THE PHILOMATHS

VI. ADUMBRATIONS

VII. THE BISHOP'S VISION

VIII. THE MACHINE BREAKERS

IX. THE MATHEMATICS OF A DREAM

X. THE VORTEX

XI. THE GREAT ADVENTURE

XII. THE BISHOP

XIII. THE GENERAL STRIKE

XIV. THE BEGINNING OF THE END

XV. LAST DAYS

XVI. THE END

XVII. THE SCARLET LIVERY
XVIII. IN THE SHADOW OF SONOMA

XIX. TRANSFORMATION

XX. THE LAST OLIGARCH

XXI. THE ROARING ABYSMAL BEAST

XXII. THE CHICAGO COMMUNE
XXIII. THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS

XXIV. NIGHTMARE

XXV. THE TERRORISTS

THE IRON HEEL

FOREWORD

It cannot be said that the Everhard Manuscript is an important historical document. To the historian it bristles with errors--not errors of fact, but errors of interpretation. Looking back across the seven centuries that have lapsed since Avis Everhard completed her manuscript, events, and the bearings of events, that were confused and veiled to her, are clear to us. She lacked perspective. She was too close to the events she writes about. Nay, she was merged in the events she has described.

Nevertheless, as a personal document, the Everhard Manuscript is of inestimable value. But here again enter error of perspective, and vitiation due to the bias of love. Yet we smile, indeed, and forgive Avis Everhard for the heroic lines upon which she modelled her husband. We know to-day that he was not so colossal, and that he loomed among the events of his times less largely than the Manuscript would lead us to believe.

We know that Ernest Everhard was an exceptionally strong man, but not so exceptional as his wife thought him to be. He was, after all, but one of a large number of heroes who, throughout the world, devoted their lives to the Revolution; though it must be conceded that he did unusual work, especially in his elaboration and interpretation of working-class philosophy. "Proletarian science" and "proletarian philosophy" were his phrases for it, and therein he shows the provincialism of his mind--a defect, however, that was due to the times and that none in that day could escape.

		"The young man is not the blissful, but the old one who has lived a beautiful life." Epicuro de Samos

Booksfree.com Save by Renting Paperback and Audio Books