Boys Peng Luode's troubles

Author: Booth Tarkington
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-05-01
Features: The Boy in the Brown Suit is a famous novel by American writer Booth Tarkington (1869—1946). Tarkington was a prolific writer, having written over 50 novels and 15 plays (11 of which were co-authored). Among his works, The Great Andersons (1918) and Alice Adams (1921) won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Tarkington was also an accomplished children's literature writer. His novel The Boy in the Brown Suit, originally titled Pendennis, published in 1914, became immensely popular and caused a sensation at the time, even being compared to Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The novel successfully portrays the mischievous character of Pendennis. He never followed rules, almost daily causing trouble that made teachers and parents. The child's creative nature stood in stark contrast to the educational environment of the school. The author vividly captures the feelings of children confined to the classroom. Day after day, they stare at the monotonous blackboard and walls, the few paintings hanging on the walls imprinted in their minds, never able to shake them off. The accordion music drifting from outside stirs Pendennis's longing for spring and freedom. He can only dream of escaping the classroom, imagining himself soaring out on the breeze. We all have similar experiences, so these descriptions read particularly closely to the heart. The author has a deep understanding of boys' psychology. Pendennis shows no enthusiasm for what adults ask him to do, yet he fears nothing when he moves stones and throws them at the asphalt for mischief. He cannot stand being provoked and despises being called a "young gentleman," erupting into anger at the mere mention of the term and acting recklessly. He lacks self-control; after receiving a little money, he goes out and indulges in extravagant eating, only to end up with a stomachache and a serious illness. In short, he gets into all sorts of trouble, frustrating the adults around him. However, he recovers quickly from his mood swings—no matter how great his worries, they fade away after a good night's sleep, and each day is a fresh start.