The Sea-Wolf by Jack London is a 1904 psychological adventure novel about a refined literary critic who is forced to survive under a brutal, philosophical sea captain. Humphrey Van Weyden, a wealthy and sheltered intellectual, falls off a ferry in San Francisco Bay after a collision in the fog. He is rescued by Wolf Larsen, the ruthless and fiercely intelligent captain of the seal-hunting schooner Ghost. Instead of returning Humphrey to shore, Larsen forces him to work as a lowly cabin boy. Humphrey slowly adapts to the brutal realities of maritime life, developing physical strength, resilience, and a tougher worldview.