PROJECT ASHABI
African Stories. Limitless Worlds.
PROJECT ASHABI
African Stories. Limitless Worlds.
Project Gutenberg Archive
Complete unabridged public-domain literary work from the Project Gutenberg archive.
Project Ashabi is being built as the home of original African comics, webtoons, graphic novels, and fiction.
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His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and His Greatest Enemy
PREFACE CHAPTER I. Shows how First Love may interrupt Breakfast CHAPTER II. A Pedigree and other Family Matters CHAPTER III. In which Pendennis appears as a very young Man indeed CHAPTER IV. Mrs. Haller CHAPTER V. Mrs. Haller at Home CHAPTER VI. Contains both Love and War CHAPTER VII. In which the Major makes his Appearance CHAPTER VIII. In which Pen is kept waiting at the Door, while the Reader is informed who little Laura was. CHAPTER IX. In which the Major opens the Campaign CHAPTER X. Facing the Enemy CHAPTER XI. Negotiation CHAPTER XII. In which a Shooting Match is proposed CHAPTER XIII. A Crisis CHAPTER XIV. In which Miss Fotheringay makes a new Engagement CHAPTER XV. The happy Village CHAPTER XVI. More Storms in the Puddle CHAPTER XVII. Which concludes the first Part of this History CHAPTER XVIII. Alma Mater CHAPTER XIX. Pendennis of Boniface CHAPTER XX. Rake’s Progress CHAPTER XXI. Flight after Defeat CHAPTER XXII. Prodigal’s Return CHAPTER XXIII. New Faces CHAPTER XXIV. A Little Innocent CHAPTER XXV. Contains both Love and Jealousy CHAPTER XXVI. A House full of Visitors CHAPTER XXVII. Contains some Ball-practising CHAPTER XXVIII. Which is both Quarrelsome and Sentimental CHAPTER XXIX. Babylon CHAPTER XXX. The Knights of the Temple CHAPTER XXXI. Old and new Acquaintances CHAPTER XXXII. In which the Printer’s Devil comes to the Door CHAPTER XXXIII. Which is passed in the Neighbourhood of Ludgate Hill CHAPTER XXXIV. In which the History still hovers about Fleet Street CHAPTER XXXV. Dinner in the Row CHAPTER XXXVI. The Pall Mall Gazette CHAPTER XXXVII. Where Pen appears in Town and Country CHAPTER XXXVIII. In which the Sylph reappears CHAPTER XXXIX. In which Colonel Altamont appears and disappears CHAPTER XL. Relates to Mr. Harry Foker’s Affairs CHAPTER XLI. Carries the Reader both to Richmond and Greenwich CHAPTER XLII. Contains a novel Incident CHAPTER XLIII. Alsatia CHAPTER XLIV. In which the Colonel narrates some of his Adventures CHAPTER XLV. A Chapter of Conversations CHAPTER XLVI. Miss Amory’s Partners CHAPTER XLVII. Monseigneur s’amuse CHAPTER XLVIII. A Visit of Politeness CHAPTER XLIX. In Shepherd’s Inn CHAPTER L. In or near the Temple Garden CHAPTER LI. The happy Village again CHAPTER LII. Which had very nearly been the last of the Story CHAPTER LIII. A critical Chapter CHAPTER LIV. Convalescence CHAPTER LV. Fanny’s Occupation’s gone CHAPTER LVI. In which Fanny engages a new Medical Man CHAPTER LVII. Foreign Ground CHAPTER LVIII. “Fairoaks to let” CHAPTER LIX. Old Friends CHAPTER LX. Explanations CHAPTER LXI. Conversations CHAPTER LXII. The Way of the World CHAPTER LXIII. Which accounts perhaps for Chapter LXI. CHAPTER LXIV. Phyllis and Corydon CHAPTER LXV. Temptation CHAPTER LXVI. In which Pen begins his Canvass CHAPTER LXVII. In which Pen begins to doubt about his Election CHAPTER LXVIII. In which the Major is bidden to Stand and Deliver CHAPTER LXIX. In which the Major neither yields his Money nor his Life CHAPTER LXX. In which Pendennis counts his Eggs CHAPTER LXXI. Fiat Justitia CHAPTER LXXII. In which the Decks begin to clear CHAPTER LXXIII. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Huxter CHAPTER LXXIV. Shows how Arthur had better have taken a Return-ticket CHAPTER LXXV. A Chapter of Match-making CHAPTER LXXVI. Exeunt Omnes
Thirteen months ago, when it seemed likely that this story had come to a close, a kind friend brought you to my bedside, whence, in all probability, I never should have risen but for your constant watchfulness and skill. I like to recall your great goodness and kindness (as well as many acts of others, showing quite a surprising friendship and sympathy) at that time, when kindness and friendship were most needed and welcome.
And as you would take no other fee but thanks, let me record them here in behalf of me and mine, and subscribe myself
Yours most sincerely and gratefully,
If this kind of composition, of which the two years’ product is now laid before the public, fail in art, as it constantly does and must, it at least has the advantage of a certain truth and honesty, which a work more elaborate might lose. In his constant communication with the reader, the writer is forced into frankness of expression, and to speak out his own mind and feelings as they urge him. Many a slip of the pen and the printer, many a word spoken in haste, he sees and would recall as he looks over his volume. It is a sort of confidential talk between writer and reader, which must often be dull, must often flag. In the course of his volubility, the perpetual speaker must of necessity lay bare his own weaknesses, vanities, peculiarities. And as we judge of a man’s character, after long frequenting his society, not by one speech, or by one mood or opinion, or by one day’s talk, but by the tenor of his general bearing and conversation; so of a writer, who delivers himself up to you perforce unreservedly, you say, Is he honest? Does he tell the truth in the main? Does he seem actuated by a desire to find out and speak it? Is he a quack, who shams sentiment, or mouths for effect? Does he seek popularity by claptraps or other arts? I can no more ignore good fortune than any other chance which has befallen me. I have found many thousands more readers than I ever looked for. I have no right to say to these, You shall not find fault with my art, or fall asleep over my pages; but I ask you to believe that this person writing strives to tell the truth. If there is not that, there is nothing.
Perhaps the lovers of ‘excitement’ may care to know, that this book began with a very precise plan, which was entirely put aside. Ladies and gentlemen, you were to have been treated, and the writer’s and the publisher’s pocket benefited, by the recital of the most active horrors. What more exciting than a ruffian (with many admirable virtues) in St. Giles’s, visited constantly by a young lady from Belgravia? What more stirring than the contrasts of society? the mixture of slang and fashionable language? the escapes, the battles, the murders? Nay, up to nine o’clock this very morning, my poor friend, Colonel Altamont, was doomed to execution, and the author only relented when his victim was actually at the window.
The ‘exciting’ plan was laid aside (with a very honourable forbearance on the part of the publishers), because, on attempting it, I found that I failed from want of experience of my subject; and never having been intimate with any convict in my life, and the manners of ruffians and gaol-birds being quite unfamiliar to me, the idea of entering into competition with M. Eugène Sue was abandoned. To describe a real rascal, you must make him so horrible that he would be too hideous to show; and unless the painter paints him fairly, I hold he has no right to show him at all.
Arthur Conan Doyle
