The Escape of Mr. Trimm / His Plight and other Plights

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

24799

Title

The Escape of Mr. Trimm / His Plight and other Plights

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Irvin S. Cobb's collection of humorous and satirical short stories follows the misadventures of the wealthy but hapless Mr. Trimm, a bank president sentenced to prison. The narrative also features Major Putnam Stone, an aging Confederate veteran turned incompetent newspaper reporter, and Lieutenant Weil, a police officer whose compassion leads to a minor infraction. Through exaggerated characters and witty dialogue, the book explores themes of social class, the absurdity of bureaucracy, and the enduring human spirit in the face of...

Summary up to 500 words

The book opens with Mr. Trimm, a former president of the Thirteenth National Bank, being transported to the Federal penitentiary for twelve years. Despite his wealth and previous status, he is forced to travel in a smelly day coach with a handcuffed wrist and a stoic demeanor. He views his imprisonment with a detached sense of superiority, believing he is merely a spectator to the legal drama rather than a participant. In the Tombs, he enjoys a life of relative luxury compared to other inmates, complete with a caterer and a spacious cell, though he remains convinced he is not truly the man serving the sentence. The narrative shifts to the chaotic world of the Evening Press, where Major Putnam Stone, a sixty-two-year-old veteran of the Confederate army, works as a struggling cub reporter. His old-fashioned mannerisms and inability to adapt to modern journalism make him a target for the city editor, Wilbert Devore. The tension escalates during a political convention when a brawl breaks out on stage. Major Stone intervenes with a revolver, diffusing the situation and earning the respect of the crowd and the newspaper staff. Following this incident, he is promoted to war editor, a role that suits his historical perspective better than his current duties. Another story focuses on Lieutenant Weil, a police officer at headquarters. He is called to testify regarding a charge against him. Weil recounts a heartwarming tale of a Sicilian woman, Maria Terranova, who seeks a photograph of her husband from the police Rogues' Gallery. Her husband, Antonio Terranova, was wrongly convicted and later died in a rock quarry accident. Weil, moved by her desperation to show her child his father's face, violates departmental rules by giving her the photograph. The story highlights the conflict between rigid procedure and human compassion, ending with Weil being humorously declared 'guilty' by the commissioners for his act of kindness. Throughout the collection, Cobb employs a distinct voice that blends humor with social commentary. The characters are often caricatures of their types—the wealthy criminal, the obsolete veteran, the hardworking but rule-abiding officer—but their situations reveal deeper truths about justice, class, and the absurdity of institutional rigidity. The stories are set against the backdrop of early 20th-century New York, capturing the energy and grit of the city while maintaining a lighthearted tone that invites readers to laugh at the human condition.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Crime Fiction
• Judges fiction