John Barleycorn

John Barleycorn by Jack London (1913) Subtitled “Alcoholic Memoirs,” this is Jack London’s personal history of his relationship with drinking alcohol, or “John Barleycorn”—first published in serial form, then as a book—quite popular. Well, his writing is irresistible, highly entertaining. It’s a memoir, first of all—but through the lens of his complex relationship with alcohol. He ultimately favored prohibition, and in retrospect we can see why that didn’t work, but he has good arguments for it—fully aware of the power alcohol has over humans—it’s the power to confuse and overwhelm good sense. He starts with his earliest drinking experiences, and this historical perspective is fascinating, the social side to drinking, related to work and comradery—a time when saloons were men-only. He insists that he had no physical, hereditary addiction—and there were times, such as during long sea voyages when he didn’t drink at all. But then certain obsessive episodes he describes could be seen as the epitome of alcoholism. Particularly convincing is his description, later in life, when he would not let himself drink until a certain hour, or until after his daily “1000 words” were written—but from his account, you can just feel the encroaching obsession—the way the alcohol begins to control your mind. It is such a complex subject—everything about alcohol—that we are still in the dark ages of understanding it. Hearing the way Jack London goes back and forth on the subject—clearly doing his best to figure it out—is really pretty poignant. You might recognize this in yourself, or with those who struggle with its control. I personally think we are no further along in understanding it than this book is, and its influence will accompany us until the end of human life on Earth.

3.5.26