Jack London writes passionately and prolifically about human beings' struggle to survive. His writing appeals not to the few, but to millions of people all around the world. In this collection, readers are invited to read a series of sad stories. The One Thousand Dozen tells of a nobody who takes a great effort to seek fortune, but in vain; The House of Mapuhi attempts to arouse people's sympathy for the aboriginal Americans severely exploited and oppressed by the white; Too Much Gold reproduces the painful gold rush of the 19th century. All three gives a vivid description of the American misfortunes.

杰克•伦敦作为美国20世纪多产的短篇小说家，用饱含感情的笔触描绘了社会弱势群体的艰难生活。《马普希的房子》控诉白人殖民主义者对土著居民的剥削掠夺；《太多金子》真实再现贫苦大众艰难辛酸的淘金路；《一千打》描写了社会底层小人物曲折艰辛的致富路。三篇小说，情节各异，却无一不让人深刻体会到社会底层人民的艰辛和不幸。小说情节引人入胜，结构紧凑，文字精练生动，更增加了小说的感染力。