The Rich Little Poor Boy: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Rich Little Poor Boy: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Rich Little Poor Boy is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Gates, Eleanor (1875–1951).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Rich Little Poor Boy" by Eleanor Gates is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around a ten-year-old boy named Johnnie Smith, who lives in a tenement and is under the care of harsh foster father Big Tom Barber. As Johnnie navigates the challenges of his difficult home life, he uses his imagination to escape into a world where he dreams of adventure and a brighter future. At the start of the book, the reader is introduced to Johnnie's grim reality, marked by his oversized, tattered clothes and the oppressive presence of Big Tom, who issues commands and instills fear. Despite these conditions, Johnnie possesses a vibrant imagination, vividly visualizing a life of nobility and freedom. He shares a bond with his step-sister Cis, who provides some comfort as they communicate using a secret system due to Barber’s harsh nature. The opening sections establish Johnnie's character, his struggles, and his escapist tendencies, setting the stage for a tale about resilience, dreams, and the quest for kindness amidst adversity.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Rich Little Poor Boy
- Author credits: Gates, Eleanor (1875–1951)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Child abuse -- Fiction
- New York (N.Y.) -- Juvenile fiction
- Orphans -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- 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.


