"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them, I shall use my time."- Jack London

Jack London(1876-1916)

                            To Build a Fire is one of the most famous short story by Jack London. He was born in Jan 12 1876, near third and Brannan streets in San Fransisco. He is well know for his short story "To Build a Fire" as well as he was an American author, journalist, and social activist.He experimented with many literary forms, from conventional love stories and dystopias to science fantasy. His noted journalism included war correspondence, boxing stories, and the life of Molokai lepers. London was fortunate in the timing of his writing career. London was a passionate advocate of unionization, socialism, and the rights of workers and wrote several powerful works dealing with these topics such as his dystopian novel, The Iron Heel and his non-fiction exposé, The People of the Abyss. A committed socialist, he insisted against editorial pressures to write political essays and insert social criticism in his fiction. He was among the most influential figures of his day, who understood how to create a public persona and use the media to market his self-created image of poor-boy-turned-success. His struggles there inspired London's short story, "To Build a Fire", which many critics assess as his best.The famous version of this story was published in 1908. London published an earlier and radically different version in 1902 with a different ending, and a comparison of the two provides a dramatic illustration of the growth of his literary ability. This story is considered a prime example of the naturalist movement and of a Man vs. Nature conflict. It is also considered to be a reflection of London's own life after his experiences in the Northwestern Yukon Territory.