Martin Eden - Jack London

A poor, uneducated sailor strives to rise above his working-class roots through self-education and literary ambition. Inspired by his love for a woman of higher social standing, he devotes himself to writing and intellectual growth. As success finally comes, Martin becomes disillusioned with the shallow values of the society that once rejected him. The novel is a powerful exploration of individualism, class struggle, and the alienation that often accompanies artistic achievement.