"Martin Eden" is Jack London’s most famous novel, first printed in 1908–1909.
In many ways it’s an autobiographical book about a man who “built himself”—climbing out of the lowest depths and gaining recognition. Love for a girl from high society pushes the hero to educate himself. He becomes a writer, but all publishing houses refuse to publish him.
And, as so often happens in life, after going through deprivation and humiliation and receiving a rejection from his beloved girl, he finally becomes famous. But neither fame, nor money, nor success, nor even the return of his beloved can protect Martin from the disappointment of a life that is utterly false and hollow.