Peter's Pence by W. W. Jacobs

"Peter's Pence" by W. W. Jacobs is a short story written in the early 20th century. The narrative follows the life of the protagonists, including the titular character Peter Russet, a sailor with a serious attitude who is visited by his wealthy and teetotaler uncle. The story explores themes of family dynamics, appearances, and social expectations, particularly in the context of a sailor's nonchalant lifestyle contrasted with his uncle's genteel disposition. The story revolves around Peter's return home after a lengthy sea voyage, during which he receives a letter from his uncle, George Goodman, whom he hasn't seen in over twenty years. Peter's friends, Sam and Ginger, convince him to host his uncle, anticipating that the visit could be financially beneficial. Goodman, visiting London for the first time in decades, is characterized by his strict adherence to teetotalism and a moralistic view of life. As they spend time together, Peter and his companions engage with their uncle in a series of outings that create tension between Peter's restrained approach to enjoyment and his uncle's hedonistic turn. Ultimately, the story humorously captures the misadventures of the group as Goodman and Sam secretly indulge in alcohol while pretending to uphold their teetotaling virtues, reflecting on the absurdities and contradictions of social propriety. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Download for free

For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.

Other formats & older devices

About this eBook

Author Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark), 1863-1943
Illustrator Owen, Will, 1869-1957
Title Peter's Pence
Sailor's Knots, Part 8.
Credits Produced by David Widger
Reading Level Reading ease score: 90.9 (5th grade). Very easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject Humorous stories, English
Subject England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
Category Text
eBook-No. 10788
Release Date
Last Update Oct 28, 2024
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 328 downloads in the last 30 days.

Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!