A well-known literary critic, who went on a ferry across the bay to visit his friend, gets into a shipwreck along the way. Schooner's captain, Wolf Larsen, picks him up from the water. When Van Weyden recovers, he goes on deck to talk to the captain, but he witnesses a death of one of the crew members because of Larsen. Captain beats his sailors and makes the literary critic a shipboy.
Will Van Weyden overcome the difficulties and return back home? What will happen to him? Will the captain Wolf Larsen break Van Weyden's spirit? Find out the answers by reading this popular psychological novel by Jack London.