Percival Keene (1842) is a novel by Frederick Marryat. Inspired by the author’s experience as a captain in the Royal Navy, Percival Keene is a tale of bravery, identity, and the manifold reasons for men to take to the high seas. Frequently funny, often profound, Marryat’s novel is an underappreciated classic of nineteenth century fiction. “‘Dead! Well, fathers do die sometimes; you must get on how you can without one. I don’t think fathers are of much use, for, you see, mothers take care of you till you’re old enough to go to sea. My father did nothing for me, except to help mother to lick me, when I was obstropolous.’” Percival Keene is a troubled young man: raised by his mother and grandmother, he gains a reputation for troublemaking and disobedience early on. At school, he lashes out against bullying teacher Mr. O’Gallagher by adding poison to his sandwiches, knowing that the man will steal his lunch as usual. On Guy Fawkes Day, however, Percival finally crosses the line by setting off fireworks underneath O’Gallagher’s office, destroying the school and nearly killing the Irishman. Years later, having lost his chance at receiving an education, Percival enlists in the Royal Navy. While serving on the H.M. Calliope, he discovers that his father may not have been the marine Ben Keene, but rather his employer Captain Delmar. This edition of Frederick Marryat’s Percival Keene is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers. Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book. With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.
