Peter Simple

"Peter Simple" by Captain Frederick Marryat is a novel written in the early 19th century. It chronicles the life and adventures of a young man named Peter Simple, who is humorously dubbed the "fool of the family." As he navigates the trials of becoming a midshipman in the Royal Navy, readers are introduced to a world filled with eccentric characters, misadventures, and the challenges of growing up and finding one's place. The opening portion of the book sets the stage for Peter's journey, beginning with his rather unfortunate and comedic destiny of being sent to London to live with a stockbroker named Mr. Handycock. Peter arrives in the bustling city, fending off disappointment from his father's expectations and facing the gruff demeanor of Mr. Handycock. Through a series of amusing interactions with his new guardians, and his first glimpses into the marine life that awaits him, the narrative promises a blend of absurdity and clever observations about the quirks of human nature. Peter's youthful innocence and naivety are evident as he adapts to his new surroundings, hinting at the humorous escapades that are likely to unfold in the rest of his naval career. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Captain Frederick Marryat was a Royal Navy officer and a novelist. He is noted today as an early pioneer of nautical fiction, particularly for his semi-autobiographical novel Mr Midshipman Easy (1836). He is remembered also for his children's novel The Children of the New Forest (1847). In addition, he developed a widely used system of maritime flag signalling, known as Marryat's Code.