The Gentleman Cadet His Career and Adventures at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich

"The Gentleman Cadet" by Alfred W. Drayson is a coming-of-age story set in the late 1800s, which centers on Robert "Bob" Shepard, a young man with dreams of attending the Royal Military Academy Woolwich. The book opens by showcasing Bob's upbringing in Hampshire, with his kind but weak father and his controlling Aunt Emma. Bob's early years present a story of challenges rooted in inadequate learning opportunities and emotional gaps, which ultimately define his later trials. His path shifts when he meets Howard, an officer who fills him with the desire to become an engineer and a respected cadet, beginning a period of focused study. As Bob works toward his aims, he learns how challenging his objectives really are when he starts at cram school in Woolwich.