Penrod (The Best Sellers of 1914) [Library Binding]

Booth Tarkington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2000

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

An American novelist and dramatist. Booth Tarkington was born in Indianapolis. He was one of the most popular American novelists of his time, with The Two Vanrevels and Mary's Neck appearing on the annual best-seller lists nine times. In 2001, his book The Magnificent Ambersons was named as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century by the editorial board of the American Modern Library. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Classic Books (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0742612570
• ISBN-13: 978-0742612570
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,373,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Being a boy!, July 1, 1999

By 

R. D. Allison ([e-mail]) (Gainesville, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Penrod (Library of Indiana Classics) (Paperback)

"Penrod" is the humorous story of a twelve-year-old boy, Penrod Schofield, growing up in pre-World War I mid-west. He, with his dog Duke and his friends Sam Williams and the black brothers Herman and Vernon, are constantly getting into scrapes with adults. This is a celebration of the joys of boyhood. But, one wonders what counselors and behavioral psychologists and certain physicians would do today if Penrod Schofield got into their clutches! They might even put him on medication. For just being a boy!!....."They were upon their great theme: 'When I get to be a man!' Being human, though boys, they consider their present estate too commonplace to be dwelt upon. So, when the old men gather, they say: "When I was a boy!" It really is the land of nowadays that we never discover."

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Realistic Tale, March 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Penrod (Library of Indiana Classics) (Paperback)

The Penrod series of novels is one of the most effective evocations of the experience of being a child ever written. They deal with the daily life and trials of a boy of eleven and twelve in turn of the century (1900) Indiana. The humor is found in the petty hypocrisies of the adults and the naivete of the children and how those two things intertwine. If you have ever day-dreamed in school or yearned for the favor of the prettiest girl in your class, you will appreciate these stories. NB. They are period pieces of the purest kind, so you should expect terms and attitudes to reflect the age from which they come.

42 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Novel That Will Fade From History, March 26, 2002

By 

J. Reynolds (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Penrod (Library of Indiana Classics) (Paperback)

"Penrod" is a great novel -- interesting, enlightening, profound, grandiloquent and one of the most hilarious books ever written.

Aspects of the subject matter, however, while generally accepted in the early 1900s and treated kindly herein by the author, would simply not fly under today's political-correctness coercion. As far as popular literature is concerned, it is effectively a banned book. Consequently, "Penrod" eventually will fade from general literary consciousness, and linger only in the memories of those who truly appreciate a fine novel.