"To Build a Fire" is a short story written by Jack London. It was first published in a youth magazine in 1902, with a significantly updated version published in 1908. At the time, American readers were fascinated with the Klondike Gold Rush, and Jack London had recently returned from several years of mining for gold in the arctic north. His experiences greatly influenced his writing, and many of his works, including "To Build a Fire," center on reconnecting with nature and animal instincts to remain strong in a pampered society. It highlights folly, perseverance, pride and man and the natural world as key themes. The 1908 version of the story was an instant hit, and has remained popular since its publication. It has been adapted into multiple films.