A Wicked Woman Summary

A Wicked Woman by Jack London

A Wicked Woman is the short story of a unsullied, innocent, ingenuous and delicate young woman who has just broken off with her boyfriend Billy. She feels upset and cannot stop crying. Her sister and her husband, whom she lives with, decide to send her for a visit to the house of Mrs. Hemingway who is a family friend, and her husband.

The Hemingways decide to help her and being her mentors. Soon after, she starts blooming and acquiring more confidence. The Hemingways invite Ned Bashford, a young and attractive man. Loretta feels comfortable with Ned and he is very pleased with her.

Loretta uses to receive letters from her ex-boyfriend, but she overlooks them all until one day. When she starts reading one of them, she feels so upset that her face turns tragical. The letter says that as she allowed Billy to kiss her, she must marry him. That is what makes her a wicked woman. Loretta tells Ned, he is shocked because of it. He gathers her in his arms and kisses her, and proposes her to marry him.

Jack London

Jack London was born John Griffith Chaney on January 12, 1876, in San Francisco, California. After working in the Klondike, London returned home and began publishing stories. His novels, including The Call of the Wild, White Fang and Martin Eden, placed London among the most popular American authors of his time. London, who was also a journalist and an outspoken socialist, died in 1916.