A Jolly Fellowship

"A Jolly Fellowship" by Frank R. Stockton is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows a 16-year-old named Will Gordon, who embarks on a journey with his companion Rectus, a boy two years younger than him, as they travel from New York to the Southern States and the West Indies. Throughout their adventure, the narrative captures their youthful naivety and the various challenges they face, illustrating themes of friendship and exploration. At the start of the novel, Will waits on a steamship dock in New York for Rectus, who arrives with his parents bidding him farewell. This moment prompts Will to reminisce about how they first met during a swimming incident that nearly cost him his life. As the boys set off on this journey, Will is tasked with looking after Rectus, whose well-being is heavily emphasized by his parents. The initial chapters establish the boys' contrasting personalities and set the stage for their impending adventures filled with youthful excitement and unforeseen circumstances as they navigate life while away from home. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frank Richard Stockton was an American writer and humorist, best known today for a series of innovative children's fairy tales that were widely popular during the last decades of the 19th century.