The Iron Heel (Paperback)

An excerpt of a review by John Spargo for "The International Socialist Review," Volume 8:
JACK LONDON has joined the ranks of the prophets. It seems that few Socialist writers can resist the temptation to speculate upon the nature of the Socialist State and the manner of it's realization. London makes his contribution to this branch of the literature of Socialism in his new book, The Iron Heel, published by the Macmillan Company. He resorts to the familiar device of the novelist, writing his forecast in the form of a retrospect.
He takes a long leap forward of some seven centuries in order to tell the manner of the transformation of society from capitalism to Socialism. One Anthony Meredith, writing from Ardis in the year 419 of the Brotherhood of Man, edits and publishes the manuscript story, discovered in the hollow of an oak tree, of the first of a series of revolts which overthrew the capitalist system, though at a terrible cost. The story was written by Avis Everhard, wife of the central figure of the first revolt, leader of the forces of the working class. Ernest Everhard. the hero of his wife's thrilling story, is a Socialist of the most composite type. There is a good deal of Jack London's vigorous personality about him, as well as something which the active Socialist Party member of a few years' standing will recognize as being characteristic of several other well known comrades. He writes a book, called "Working Class Philosophy," for example, which for three hundred years continued to be popular. Some quotations from the book are given, explaining the class struggle theory, and lo I find that they are taken from my own book, "Socialism: a Summary and Interpretation of Socialist Principles." In a word, Everhard represents the Socialist movement rather than any phase of it.
"The Iron Heel" is the name which was given to the Oligarchy which developed about the year 1910. The Oligarchy reminds one of the Fourieristic prediction of a coming feudalism, which Ghent revived in his "Benevolent Feudalism." The Oligarchy was, however, the opposite of benevolent. In 1912 there was a landslide toward Socialism, fifty Congressmen being elected. But they found themselves without power. Then the Oligarchy forced a war with Germany which the Socialists of both countries frustrated by a general strike.. Then the Oligarchy succeeded in dividing the ranks of the workers by conferring special advantages upon a few select unions, entering into compacts with the union leaders.
From this point on the story is one of terrible bloodshed. There is the "Chicago Commune" (why the word "Commune" is used in connection with the uprising does not appear ) of 1918, in which carnage far excels that of the Paris Commune of 1871. Tens of thousands of people are slaughtered, the workers' first great revolt is crushed, drowned in blood. The Oligarchy follows its ghastly triumph with countless executions. This reign of terror continues until 1832, when they capture and' kill Everhard. This takes place on the eve of the second revolt which he had planned-a revolt which took place and was crushed just as was the first. Here the story contained in the manuscript ends, but we learn from the editor that there were several other revolts of the workers, crushed in like fashion, and that the Oligarchy managed to maintain its power for three centuries-three hundred bloody years
It is impossible to deny the literary skill which London displays in this ingenious and stirring romance. He has written nothing more powerful than this book. In some senses it is an unfortunate book, and I am by no means disposed to join those of our comrades who hail it as a great addition to the literature of Socialist propaganda. The picture he gives is well calculated... it gives a new impetus to the old and generally discarded cataclysmic theory...