Jack London Biographer - Russ Kingman

Jack London's adventure stories have entertained and thrilled us greatly, but it was his personal life that has truly captivated me. Thanks to some very dedicated researchers and scholars I have at my fingertips countless facts that would require far too much time and effort for me to access otherwise.

uss Kingman, founder and Executive Director of Jack London Foundation and owner of Jack London Research Center & Bookstore, was one of those dedicated persons. I count it a privilege to have known him and I dedicate this page to him. You can hardly find a serious, scholarly literary work of London, that has been done today, that doesn't cite Russ Kingman in some way. That has been the impact of this man's life regarding the study of Jack London.

Kingman authored two books that every Londonarian should have * Jack London A Pictorial Biography and ** Jack London A Definitive Chronology.They are wonderful tools for reference which I often use, but they are also signed and treasured keepsakes.

I found each time I returned to The Jack London Historic Park, I just had to stop in Glen Ellen and visit the London Bookstore where I would find Russ busy at his desk. Russ was always so approachable and his favorite topic and mine too, was naturally, Jack London. I became not just another London fan, but a Kingman fan too!

One particular visit stands above the others, it was when Russ introduced me to Becky London Fleming, Jack's daughter! It is hard to describe the enormity of the event and my feelings because I didn't know Becky resided at the Jack London Research Center, I was taken by complete surprise. When I left the bookstore my wife said I should go back in and ask to have my picture taken with Becky. I didn't want to further impose upon their gracious hospitality and meeting Becky was about all the excitement I could take for one day. It was like reaching across time and shaking hands with Jack. I told my wife I would ask the next time we visited. The next time was months later and regrettably it was too late, Becky had passed away.

Because of Russ and the magnificence of London's Beauty Ranch, I was to visit many times and always came away with a better understanding and a deeper appreciation of the life of London. Russ' in-depth knowledge and his dedication to searching out the truth concerning the life of London, made him a very unique person. Rebuffing conventional thinking about London's death and parentage through diligent research, earned him the respect of his peers.

He was humble enough to share some time with me, a near-stranger, and never made me feel I was intruding on his time . . . I am sure many times he had better things to do! I'm convinced Jack London and Russ Kingman both had this same trait.

-David Hartzell

Photos of the Kingmans and Brewster T. Rooster

Thank you Winnie for sharing these photos with me!

Kingman, Russ.* A Pictorial Biography of Jack London: The most accurate biography of London ever written. Published by David Rejl, Middletown, California

Kingman, Russ.**Jack London A Definitive Chronology: This book is the most detailed source of Jack London life. Published by David Rejl, Middletown, California.

Kingman, Russ. A Collector’s Guide to Jack London’s Non-Fictional Works. Glen Ellen, CA: Jack London Research Center, n.d. An alphabetical listing that includes 320 non-fiction articles in newspapers and magazines, 8 book reviews, and 6 introductions to others’ books.

Kingman, Russ. A Collector’s Guide to Jack London First Appearances. Glen Ellen, CA: Jack London Research Center, n.d. A chronological listing of London’s short stories as they published in American magazines. When compared to their final appearance in the volumes of collected stories London himself edited, these versions may reveal significant cuts or changes.

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