Jim Spurling, Fisherman / or Making Good

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26560

Title

Jim Spurling, Fisherman / or Making Good

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A classic coming-of-age tale set on a New England fishing island, this novel follows wealthy but reckless Percy Whittington as he trades his luxury lifestyle for hard labor alongside working-class friends. Under the mentorship of the solid Jim Spurling, Percy learns resilience, teamwork, and the value of earning one's own way, transforming from a spoiled heir into a capable young man before returning to face his future.

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the rugged backdrop of Tarpaulin Island, Albert Walter Tolman's *Jim Spurling, Fisherman* chronicles the transformative summer of Percy Whittington, a wealthy academy graduate whose life is upended after he crashes his father's automobile. Abandoned by his millionaire father, John P. Whittington, who refuses to foot the bills for his son's college, Percy is forced to earn his own living. He joins the crew of Jim Spurling, a physically strong but slow-witted fisherman, alongside the spirited Roger Lane and the studious Winthrop Stevens. The narrative follows the trio through the perils of the Atlantic, including dense fogs, treacherous shoals, and a relentless campaign against ruthless poachers led by the gangster Captain Brittler. Through dangerous trawling, lobstering, and a dramatic shipwreck involving a mysterious Italian crew, Percy sheds his spoiled habits. He learns essential skills such as splitting fish, navigating by compass, and standing up to bullies. The story highlights themes of class disparity, the dignity of labor, and the power of friendship. By the season's end, Percy has physically and morally matured, earning his own wages and securing his father's respect. The novel concludes with Percy proving that character is built through action and adversity rather than inherited wealth, while his father learns to value personal connection over mere money-making. The book serves as a coming-of-age tale where a spoiled youth is forged into a man of grit and integrity through the mentorship of working-class friends.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26560.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg26560.epub

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2026-07-04 16:18 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction