Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Optic, Oliver (1822–1897).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student" by Oliver Optic is a novel written in the mid-19th century. The story centers around Ernest Thornton, a fourteen-year-old student who grapples with the challenges of school discipline, social dynamics, and a longing for family connections. Through his experiences, readers are introduced to themes of rebellion against authority, the struggles of the underdog, and the quest for personal integrity. At the start of the narrative, Ernest is summoned by the strict principal, Mr. Parasyte, accused of fighting with a popular student, William Poodles. As the events unfold, it becomes clear that the school environment is rife with favoritism and injustice, with Poodles enjoying the privilege of being the principal's pet. The opening portion sets the stage for Ernest’s inner conflict as he faces expulsion for defending himself, leading to a rebellion among his peers who stand against the tyranny of their schoolmaster. As tensions rise, it becomes evident that Ernest values truth and loyalty, and the groundwork is laid for a confrontation between student solidarity and oppressive authority.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student
- Author credits: Optic, Oliver (1822–1897)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Students -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Novels
- Children's Fiction
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


