The Scarlet Plague is a post-apocalyptic novel written by Jack London. The story is set in 2073, sixty years after an epidemic wiped out most of the human population. Jack London was one of the greatest American writers of the early 20th century. London's most famous novels were Call of the Wild and White Fang, both of which were set during the Klondike Gold Rush. Despite only living 40 years, London was a very prolific writer and his books are still widely read throughout the world.