The Fortunate Youth: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Fortunate Youth: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Fortunate Youth is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Locke, William John (1863–1930).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Fortunate Youth" by William John Locke is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Paul Kegworthy, a young boy who grapples with a tumultuous family life marked by abuse and neglect but possesses a vibrant imagination and a deep yearning for a better existence. He sees himself as a unique being destined for greatness, a stark contrast to his grim surroundings in a working-class neighborhood. The opening of the novel introduces Paul's difficult childhood, living with his unkind stepfather, Mr. Button, and his resentful mother, Mrs. Button, while having to endure the chaos of a large half-sibling family. As he navigates a world of bullying and social isolation, he often dreams of escaping his bleak reality and finding his true identity. The turning point comes when he meets Maisie Shepherd, a girl from a vicarage who ignites within him a sense of hope through her kindness and beauty. This initial encounter provides a glimpse into Paul's aspirations beyond his current life, setting the stage for his evolving journey in search of freedom and purpose.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Fortunate Youth
- Author credits: Locke, William John (1863–1930)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Great Britain -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Bestsellers, American, 1895-1923
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Novels
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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.


