TY  - BOOK
AU  - Ballantyne,R.M.
TI  - Philosopher Jack
AV  - PZ 
PY  - 2007///
CY  - Salt Lake City, UT
PB  - Project Gutenberg
KW  - Sailors -- Fiction
KW  - Shipwrecks -- Fiction
KW  - South Pacific Ocean -- Fiction
KW  - Gold mines and mining -- California -- Fiction
N1  - Release date is 2007-06-07; Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England; Original publication data not identified
N2  - "Philosopher Jack" by R. M. Ballantyne is a novel likely written in the mid-19th century. The story centers around Edwin Jack, nicknamed "Philosopher Jack," a young and impulsive student who grapples with questions of purpose and identity. Following a personal crisis sparked by financial difficulties, he decides to leave college and seek adventure at sea, embarking on a journey that intertwines themes of friendship, responsibility, and the quest for knowledge.  At the start of the book, Jack is introduced in a moment of introspection, wrestling with feelings of despair over his future and a letter from his father revealing their family’s financial struggles. This leads him to impulsively decide to leave for the docks, where he encounters Captain Samson, who eventually agrees to take him aboard the ship "Lively Poll." Balancing humor and hardship, the opening sets the stage for Jack's transition from a life of collegiate debate to the harsh realities of seafaring. Alongside him are a cast of characters, including the taciturn "Conscience," who provides comical dialogue, and the young Polly, whose innocent perspective adds depth to the narrative as the group prepares for their forthcoming maritime adventures. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
UR  - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21756
ER  -