# François — The Call of the Wild character guide

> François in The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-the-law-of-club-and-fang

## Snapshot

A French-Canadian dog-driver whose quick eyes and quicker axe keep the mail team alive and moving.

## Who they are

François handles the dogs on the Dyea trail with a driver's pragmatism—he praises Buck's quick learning, wields the axe when mad Dolly charges, and judges Sol-leks the best lead dog left after Spitz is gone. His running battle with Buck over the leadership is half exasperation, half admiration; he grins and slaps his thighs when Buck displaces Sol-leks, then curses and throws clubs when the dog will not relent. He is the first human to see what Buck is becoming, and the first to be beaten by it.

## In the story

### [The Call of the Wild](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/the-call-of-the-wild)

French-Canadian driver who initially handles Buck's sled team.

### [Into the Primitive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/i-into-the-primitive)

A French-Canadian half-breed who works with Perrault and handles the dogs, earning Buck's respect through fair but firm treatment.

### [II: The Law of Club and Fang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/ii-the-law-of-club-and-fang)

Dog-driver who trains Buck and enforces discipline with whip and instruction.

### [III: The Dominant Primordial Beast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/iii-the-dominant-primordial-beast)

Driver who encourages Buck during the nest fight and later helps fend off the starving huskies.

### [Who Has Won to Mastership](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/iv-who-has-won-to-mastership)

Initially resists Buck's claim to leadership but eventually concedes; later bids Buck farewell in Skaguay.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/characters/francois
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/characters