The Peterkin Papers by Lucretia P. Hale
"The Peterkin Papers" by Lucretia P. Hale is a humorous work that offers a satirical glimpse into mid-nineteenth-century family life, particularly set in Boston during the 1870s. The narrative follows the misadventures of the Peterkin family, who are characterized by their comically misguided attempts to navigate everyday situations. Each chapter stands alone as a short story, showcasing their whimsical failures, such as Mrs. Peterkin's mishap with salt in her coffee and the family's struggle to get a horse to move. Through these lighthearted narratives, Hale captures the essence of human folly with a gentle touch, making the Peterkins relatable to readers who may see reflections of their own families in their antics.
Significantly, "The Peterkin Papers" represents one of the early forays into nonsense prose for young adults, diverging from the didactic literature of its time that often portrayed parents as wise and children as obedient. Instead, Hale's work allows for humor and folly, a trend that would influence later authors, including E. Nesbit and Lewis Carroll. As a notable example of early humorous literature for young readers, the book invites reflection on the absurdities of family life, making it a valuable text for those interested in the evolution of children's literature.
Subject Terms
The Peterkin Papers by Lucretia P. Hale
First published: 1880; illustrated
Subjects: Emotions, family, and social issues
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy
Time of work: The 1870’s
Recommended Ages: 13-18
Locale: Boston
Principal Characters:
Mr. Peterkin , the father of the householdMrs. Peterkin , the motherAgamemnon , the eldest son and the only one who has been to college, who tries to invent useful devicesElizabeth Eliza , the daughter who often suggests asking the lady from Philadelphia for adviceSolomon John , another sonThe little boys , the youngest of the Peterkins’ childrenThe lady from Philadelphia , the Peterkins’ wise friend
Form and Content
The Peterkin Papers is a hilarious account of life in the mid-nineteenth century. From the opening story of Mrs. Peterkin accidentally putting salt in her coffee to the last page when she explains that it was not their luggage that was lost, “But we, as a family,” the reader laughs at the adventures of the Peterkins. The novel is an important example of humor in young adult fiction. Set in Boston in the 1870’s, the novel gives readers a satirical view of genteel family life. Lucretia Hale portrays the Peterkins as extremely unwise, but few young adults would argue that they or their families have never behaved as foolishly as the Peterkins.
Each chapter in the book is a complete story in itself. The plots are neither difficult nor complex. The members of the Peterkin family find the most mundane daily decisions to be incomprehensible. In the first episode, and one of the most famous, Mrs. Peterkin accidentally puts salt in her morning coffee, which is considered a tragedy. The entire family gives advice, and they seek a solution from a chemist and an herbalist, but neither can rectify the situation. Finally, the lady from Philadelphia is consulted. She suggests that Mrs. Peterkin simply be given a fresh cup of coffee, to which Elizabeth Eliza exclaims, “Why didn’t we think of that?”
Throughout the novel, readers are reminded of Elizabeth Eliza’s question. In another episode, Mrs. Peterkin decides to go for a ride in the carriage, but nothing that she or her children attempt will make the horse move. They try reducing the load on the carriage, whipping the horse, and even giving the horse sweets to induce it to move. Finally, the children ask the lady from Philadelphia, who peers out her bedroom window and calmly suggests that they untie the horse from the hitching post.
Eventually, the Peterkin family resolves to become wise and independent from the lady from Philadelphia. They decide that what they need is a library, and material is gathered to build a bookcase. The question of books, however, remains. Solomon John declares that he will write a book. After several obstacles are overcome, including finding paper, gathering nuts and ingredients to make ink, and a deciding on a pen, Solomon John announces that he is ready to begin—only to discover that he has nothing to say.
In the last episode of the novel, the Peterkins take their long-awaited vacation. Instead of the resort where they had planned to stay, however, the Peterkins find themselves at the poor farm without their luggage or their friends.
Each of the episodes demonstrates the Peterkins’ inability to cope with simple, everyday situations. Whether deciding to raise the ceiling instead of chopping the bottom off the Christmas tree, delaying a vacation because the trunk is too heavy to lift, or playing the piano outside because the movers placed the keyboard in front of the window, the Peterkins provide a humorous look at family life.
Critical Context
The Peterkin Papers is one of the earliest examples of nonsense prose written for young adults. Prior to its publication in 1880, most stories that explored family relationships were heavily didactic, such as Mary Sherwood’s The History of the Fairchild Family (1812). Strict obedience to parents, especially to one’s father, was stressed and accompanied by moralizing on the nature of sin and repentance. Parents were portrayed as wise, with a strong sense of what was right, as in Martha Finley’s Elsie Dinsmore books, beginning in 1867. These parents did not condone foolishness, nor did they demonstrate foolishness in their own behavior. The humorous treatment of the Peterkins is the more remarkable and memorable for this reason. Despite Lucretia Hale’s example, most authors writing for young adults continued in their didactic approaches. One exception was E. Nesbit’s Bastable family in The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899). These stories, narrated by the oldest son, Oswald, offer the same sense that children have the ability to initiate actions and to think of grand schemes on their own. Nesbit’s humorous touch to the situations is similar to Hale’s. Other notable humorous books of this era include Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories (1902), and Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows (1908).