Jack London's Second Wife, Charmian Kittredge London
Kittredge had a vibrant personality with an infectious laugh.
Kittredge and London
Charmian Kittredge met Jack London during a luncheon at Young's restaurant in March 1900. Kittredge worked at one of the largest shipping firms in San Francisco, E. Mickle and Company. London admired her socialism and literary knowledge and frequently met at Kittredge's home in Berkeley to discuss literature, including Flood-Tide, The Forest Lovers, and Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Though their visits were fulfilling, London married Elizabeth "Bess" Maddern shortly after.
Modern Woman
Kittredge began her writing career about the same time as London's first marriage began, publishing non-fiction essays, which included an article requesting women to stop riding sidesaddle. According to Irving Stone, Kittredge held a deep love for horses. She was the first woman to ride astride into the hills when few women rode horses. Because she liked to ride astride, Kittredge created a split skirt to comfortably and shamelessly ride her horse.
Kittredge was London's second and last wife. They shared similar interests and goals, bringing them together.
Virtuoso Pianist
Kittredge joined a group of writers and artists called The Crowd, who met weekly at Jack London's house, where London and Kittredge had their first kiss during one of these meetings.
Yet, London felt enamored with author Anna Strunsky, which left Kittredge to pursue her love of art. 1901, she traveled to Europe to further her art and music studies. She was a virtuoso pianist and loved playing Chopin, Liszt, and others. London enjoyed listening to her piano music and often asked her to play while he wrote.
Wake Robin Resort in Glen Ellen
Kittredge and London's relationship developed into a romance in the summer of 1903 when he took his family to Glen Ellen, California. They stayed at a resort called Wake Robin, owned by Netta Wiley Eames, who raised Kittredge with her husband since she was six because her mother had passed away. Her father, California hotelier Willard "Kitt" Kittredge, didn't care to raise his daughter alone.
Eames had no children, so they welcomed the chance to raise their niece. Netta, a nationally recognized writer and editor, taught Kittredge at home, focusing on literature, fine arts and piano. She also taught her accounting, typing and shorthand. At an early age, Eames exposed Kittredge to Arts and Crafts movement leaders. She also had her attend modern philosophy and literature classes at the University of California, which influenced her artistic pursuits.
Kittredge joined esteemed groups of painters, scientists, political leaders, photographers, and Sierra Club founders. She even took part in a three-day horseback ride to Yosemite. The Eames taught her to have a positive attitude towards guilt-free sexuality.
So when she met London, she believed in the New Woman ideology, which influenced their growing romance.
London and Kittredge Secret Love Affair
London left his family for a short sailing trip and injured himself on a buggy ride. Bess Maddern asked Kittredge, living nearby at Wake Robin Resort, to visit her husband to see how he fared. The visits became a secret love affair, lasting long and leading to London's divorce.
Kittredge and London married in 1905 in Chicago. Kittredge paid for the honeymoon that included London's lecture tour on socialism. She received an inheritance from both sides of her family, which helped her support London's pursuits.
And pay for her educational years before meeting London. She was able to attend Mills College, where she studied philosophy, arts and literature but did not pursue a degree.
Charmian and Jack London in Hawaii
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London and Kittredge Tried to Sail Around the World
Kittredge and London also traveled to Jamaica and Cuba, where she photographed the island landscape. After their travels, they settled at Wake Robin and planned to buy land for ranching on Sonoma Mountain, with its expansive Pacific Ocean views.
The couple took another trip, repeating the journey described in Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Around the World. They sailed on the Snark, designed by London, but only went as far as Australia by way of Hawaii and Bora Bora because he became sick.
The adventure provided fodder for the material for each writer. Kittredge published articles for Mid-Pacific Magazine and the books, The Log of the Snark and Our Hawaii. Both received positive reviews, describing her work as conversational, emotionally revealing and humorous.
Kittredge Influenced London's Writings and Ranching
Kittredge was important to London's writings and inspired characters like Saxon, Paula, and Lute. She also collaborated on many of London's books, The Mutiny of Elsinore and The Valley of the Moon. She was his typist, editor and shared his intentions. Kittredge deleted material that didn't align with his story's purpose and suggested changes in structure. Her manuscripts and diaries show how involved she was in helping London write.
The Valley of the Moon by Jack London. He based the character Saxon on Kittredge.
Kittredge was also an active partner in the Beauty Ranch, designing their estate on Sonoma Mountain in Glen Ellen. They planned a self-sufficient and sustainable source of food products. Kittredge became interested in animal breeding because of her experience with horses. London and Kittredge won top awards at the California State Fair.
Widowed at 45
Kittredge became a widow in 1916 after London died of uremia and renal colic, leaving his entire estate to Kittredge. He bequeathed an obligatory amount to his first wife and children. Kittredge and London had no children, though a daughter, Joy, died shortly after birth and other pregnancies that were miscarriages.
After his death, Kittredge supported London's legacy and Beauty Ranch by selling screenplay rights and writing prefaces for his posthumously published works like Dutch Courage and Other Stories. She also completed an unfinished novel Cherry for Cosmopolitan magazine. Kittredge traveled all over the world to organize translations and protect copyrights of London's work, resulting in worldwide publications.
Kittredge tried to write a biography of her husband's life, Book of Jack London, but it needed to be more comprehensive and unbiased. She tried to work with Irving Stone, but his rendition of London's life was terrible. He wrote untruths spun from London's own fictional work, falsely concluding that London committed suicide.
Kittredge Supported Women's Sexuality
Kittredge spoke frankly about sexuality. She believed sex was a source of energy and transcendence. She had several love affairs. Most notable was her relationship with Harry Houdini. She had no interest in exclusive relationships during their time together.
Her most extended and emotional association was with South Sea travel writer Fredrick O'Brien.
Some say Kittredge was discreet with her many lovers to protect her public image and, by implication, Jack London.
References
- Charmian Kittredge London | Jack London Online at Sonoma State University
- Why Was Jack London's Wife Written Out of His Legend?
Charmian Kittredge London accompanied her husband on his adventures and helped with his work—but like so many literary wives, she rarely gets her due. - Charmian Kittredge London, Jack London's Wife and Soulmate
Biographical sketch with color photo of Charmian Kittredge London - 14 Fascinating Photographs of Jack London's Second Wife, Charmian Kittredge
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
