Percival Keene (1842) is a novel by Frederick Marryat. Inspired by the
author's experience as a captain in the Royal Navy, Percival Keene is
a tale of bravery, identity, and the manifold reasons for men to take to
the high seas. Frequently funny, often profound, Marryat's novel is an
underappreciated classic of nineteenth century fiction. "'Dead! Well,
fathers do die sometimes; you must get on how you can without one. I
don't think fathers are of much use, for, you see, mothers take care of
you till you're old enough to go to sea. My father did nothing for me,
except to help mother to lick me, when I was obstropolous.'" Percival
Keene is a troubled young man: raised by his mother and grandmother, he
gains a reputation for troublemaking and disobedience early on. At
school, he lashes out against bullying teacher Mr. O'Gallagher by adding
poison to his sandwiches, knowing that the man will steal his lunch as
usual. On Guy Fawkes Day, however, Percival finally crosses the line by
setting off fireworks underneath O'Gallagher's office, destroying the
school and nearly killing the Irishman. Years later, having lost his
chance at receiving an education, Percival enlists in the Royal Navy.
While serving on the H.M. Calliope, he discovers that his father may
not have been the marine Ben Keene, but rather his employer Captain
Delmar. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset
manuscript, this edition of Frederick Marryat's Percival Keene is a
classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
