Editing Jack London (section)

== First marriage (1900–1904) ==
[[File:Jack London with daughters Bess (left) and Joan (right).jpg|thumb|left|Jack with daughters Becky (left) and Joan (right)]]
[[File:Bessie Maddern London and daughters.jpg|thumb|left|Bessie Maddern London and daughters, Joan and Becky]]

London married Elizabeth Mae (or May) "Bessie" Maddern on April 7, 1900, the same day ''The Son of the Wolf'' was published. Bess had been part of his circle of friends for a number of years. She was related to stage actresses [[Minnie Maddern Fiske]] and [[Emily Stevens (actress)|Emily Stevens]]. Stasz says, "Both acknowledged publicly that they were not marrying out of love, but from friendship and a belief that they would produce sturdy children."<ref>{{harvnb|Stasz|2001|p=61}}: "Both acknowledged... that they were not marrying out of love"</ref> Kingman says, "they were comfortable together... Jack had made it clear to Bessie that he did not love her, but that he liked her enough to make a successful marriage."{{sfn|Kingman|1979|p=98}}

London met Bessie through his friend at Oakland High School, Fred Jacobs; she was Fred's fiancée.  Bessie, who tutored at Anderson's University Academy in Alameda California, tutored Jack in preparation for his entrance exams for the University of California at Berkeley in 1896.  Jacobs was killed aboard the [[USAT Warren|''Scandia'']] in 1897, but Jack and Bessie continued their friendship, which included taking photos and developing the film together.<ref>Reesman 2010, p 12</ref> This was the beginning of Jack's passion for photography.

During the marriage, London continued his friendship with [[Anna Strunsky]], co-authoring ''[[The Kempton-Wace Letters]]'', an [[epistolary novel]] contrasting two philosophies of love. Anna, writing "Dane Kempton's" letters, arguing for a romantic view of marriage, while London, writing "Herbert Wace's" letters, argued for a scientific view, based on [[Darwinism]] and [[eugenics]]. In the novel, his fictional character contrasted two women he had known.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

London's pet name for Bess was "Mother-Girl" and Bess's for London was "Daddy-Boy".<ref>{{harvnb|Stasz|2001|p=66}}: "Mommy Girl and Daddy Boy"</ref> Their first child, [[Joan London (American writer)|Joan]], was born on January 15, 1901, and their second, Bessie "Becky" (also reported as Bess), on October 20, 1902. Both children were born in [[Piedmont, California|Piedmont]], California. Here London wrote one of his most celebrated works, ''[[The Call of the Wild]].''

While London had pride in his children, the marriage was strained. Kingman says that by 1903 the couple were close to separation as they were "extremely incompatible". "Jack was still so kind and gentle with Bessie that when Cloudsley Johns was a house guest in February 1903 he didn't suspect a breakup of their marriage."{{sfn|Kingman|1979|p=121}}

London reportedly complained to friends Joseph Noel and George Sterling:

{{Blockquote |text=[Bessie] is devoted to purity. When I tell her morality is only evidence of low blood pressure, she hates me. She'd sell me and the children out for her damned purity. It's terrible. Every time I come back after being away from home for a night she won't let me be in the same room with her if she can help it.<ref>{{harvnb|Noel|1940|p=150}}, "She's devoted to purity..."</ref>}}

Stasz writes that these were "code words for [Bess's] fear that [Jack] was consorting with prostitutes and might bring home [[venereal disease]]."<ref>{{harvnb|Stasz|2001|p=80}} ("devoted to purity... code words...")</ref>

On July 24, 1903, London told Bessie he was leaving and moved out. During 1904, London and Bess negotiated the terms of a divorce, and the decree was granted on November 11, 1904.{{sfn|Kingman|1979|p=139}}