The Scarlet Plague
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| The Scarlet Plague | |
| Author | Jack London |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publication date | June 1912 |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | ISBN 9781406823578 (Echo Library edition, paperback) |
The Scarlet Plague was written by Jack London and originally published in London Magazine in 1912. It was re-released in February of 2007 by Echo Library.
The story takes place in 2072, sixty years after the scarlet plague has depopulated the planet. James Howard Smith is one of the few survivors of the pre-plague era left alive in the San Francisco area, and as he realizes his time grows short, he tries to impart the value of knowledge and wisdom to his grandsons.
American society at the time of the plague's breakout had become severely stratified and there had been a large hereditary underclass of servants and "nurses"; and the political system had been replaced by a formalized oligarchy. Commercial airship lines had existed, as did some airships privately owned by the very rich.
