Philosopher Jack: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Philosopher Jack: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Philosopher Jack is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael) (1825–1894).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Philosopher Jack" by R. M. Ballantyne is a novel likely written in the mid-19th century. The story centers around Edwin Jack, nicknamed "Philosopher Jack," a young and impulsive student who grapples with questions of purpose and identity. Following a personal crisis sparked by financial difficulties, he decides to leave college and seek adventure at sea, embarking on a journey that intertwines themes of friendship, responsibility, and the quest for knowledge. At the start of the book, Jack is introduced in a moment of introspection, wrestling with feelings of despair over his future and a letter from his father revealing their family’s financial struggles. This leads him to impulsively decide to leave for the docks, where he encounters Captain Samson, who eventually agrees to take him aboard the ship "Lively Poll." Balancing humor and hardship, the opening sets the stage for Jack's transition from a life of collegiate debate to the harsh realities of seafaring. Alongside him are a cast of characters, including the taciturn "Conscience," who provides comical dialogue, and the young Polly, whose innocent perspective adds depth to the narrative as the group prepares for their forthcoming maritime adventures.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Philosopher Jack
- Author credits: Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael) (1825–1894)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Gold mines and mining -- California -- Fiction
- Sailors -- Fiction
- Shipwrecks -- Fiction
- South Pacific Ocean -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: British Literature
- 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.
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