Japhet in Search of a Father

"Japhet in Search of a Father" by Frederick Marryat is a novel written in the early 19th century. The story follows the life of Japhet, a foundling brought to the Foundling Hospital shortly after birth, who grows up without knowledge of his parentage. The narrative combines elements of humor and adventure as Japhet embarks on a quest to discover his identity and search for his father, while navigating his unexpected life in the world. The opening of the novel introduces Japhet’s arrival at the Foundling Hospital. We learn that he was left at the doorstep by unknown individuals, along with a letter that hints at his legitimate birth but leaves the mystery of his parents unanswered. The story continues with whimsical descriptions of the Foundling Hospital and the quirky characters surrounding Japhet, such as the old porter and the surgical apothecary Mr. Cophagus, who later takes him under his wing. Through clever humor and vivid detail, Marryat sets the stage for Japhet’s subsequent adventures, highlighting his desire for belonging and understanding of his origins. (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.