A Prefect's Uncle facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | P. G. Wodehouse |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Comedy novel |
| Publisher | A & C Black |
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Publication date
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11 September 1903 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| OCLC | 5919911 |
A Prefect's Uncle is an early novel by the famous author P. G. Wodehouse. It is one of his fun stories set in a school for boys. The book was first published on September 11, 1903, in the United Kingdom. It came out in America a month later.
The story takes place at Beckford College, a fictional boarding school for boys. It is a type of school known as a public school in the UK, which means it's a private school where students live and study.
The book's title hints at the main plot. A mischievous young boy named Reginald Farnie arrives at the school. It turns out he is the uncle of an older student, "Bishop" Gethryn. Gethryn is a prefect, which means he is an older student with special duties and responsibilities. He is also a popular cricket player. Farnie's arrival, along with another new boy named Wilson, causes a lot of excitement and trouble. This even messes up some important cricket matches!
Contents
The Story of A Prefect's Uncle
New Arrivals at Beckford College
Gethryn is the Head-prefect of Leicester's House at Beckford. He is good friends with Marriott, who is also a prefect. Marriott's aunt asks him to look after a new boy named Wilson. Wilson turns out to be quite good at taking care of himself. He becomes Marriott's fag, which means he is a younger student who helps a senior student with small tasks.
Gethryn's aunt also asks him to meet his uncle at the train station. Gethryn is very surprised when his uncle, Farnie, arrives. Farnie is four years younger than Gethryn! Farnie is joining Beckford after being expelled from or leaving several other schools.
School Rules and Secret Plans
Students in the Upper Fifth form must enter a poetry contest. This year, the poem must be about the death of Dido. Lorimer, a student in the Upper Fifth, is not good at writing poems. His friend Pringle offers to write the poem for him, which is against school rules.
Meanwhile, Farnie breaks another school rule. He secretly goes to a nearby village to play billiards. He loses money and borrows two pounds from Monk. Monk is a known troublemaker. He tells Farnie he must pay back four pounds later.
Trouble and Cricket Chaos
Monk is upset when Farnie does not join his group of friends. He demands his money back. Monk threatens to tell everyone that Farnie broke school rules to play billiards.
While Gethryn is playing cricket for Beckford against the Marylebone Cricket Club, Farnie takes four pounds from Gethryn's charity box. He leaves the money in Monk's study. Wilson sees Farnie in Gethryn's study. Farnie worries that Wilson will figure out what happened. So, Farnie decides to run away from school. He leaves a note for Gethryn. He also takes the remaining six pounds from the charity box.
The cricket match against the M.C.C. starts well for Beckford. They bat first. During the lunch break, Gethryn finds Farnie's note. Gethryn thinks he can ride his bicycle, catch Farnie, and bring him back before the next part of the game, called an innings.
However, the match goes badly for Beckford. Their first innings ends quickly. Since Gethryn cannot be found, Lorimer plays as a substitute. But Lorimer is not allowed to bowl. The team loses without Gethryn. Gethryn faces some problems on his journey but finally brings Farnie back. Farnie can only return six pounds. To protect his uncle, Gethryn refuses to explain why he left the game. Norris, the cricket captain, then stops Gethryn from playing for the school team.
Poetry Problems and Team Spirit
Pringle visits Colonel Ashby, a friend of his family. The Colonel shows him a book of poems. It contains a poem about the death of Dido. Pringle copies the poem and gives it to Lorimer. He pretends that he wrote it himself.
Monk and his friends dislike Gethryn. This is because Gethryn stopped them from bullying Wilson. Eight of Monk's friends are on the Leicester's House cricket team. They refuse to play in the inter-house cricket cup. They say they will only play if Gethryn quits as captain of the house team. Marriott and Reece advise Gethryn to get younger House members to play instead, including Wilson. Marriott suggests Gethryn focus on improving their fielding. Gethryn, Reece, and Marriott can handle the batting and bowling.
On the day of the match between Jephson's and Leicester's, Norris, who is on Jephson's team, underestimates Leicester's. He misses the match. Leicester's wins! Norris realizes he acted much like Gethryn did with the M.C.C. match. He puts Gethryn back on the school team. But he is still unhappy that Gethryn will not explain his actions.
Secrets Revealed and New Beginnings
Mr. Wells, a friend of the Headmaster, chooses Lorimer's poem as the winner of the contest. Mr. Lawrie, the master of the Sixth form, recognizes the poem. It is his own! The Headmaster questions Lorimer about this. Lorimer then talks to Pringle, who admits he copied the poem. They both confess to the Headmaster. The Headmaster gives them a light punishment: two extra lessons. This stops them from playing in the cup for the School House. Leicester's defeats the School House and wins the cup.
The winter term begins, and the cricket season is over. Leicester's House is now united because of their cricket cup victory. Monk has left the school. Farnie has also been taken out of the school by his father. He repaid the four pounds to Gethryn. Gethryn feels he can now tell Reece and Marriott what happened on the day of the M.C.C. match. Wilson hears Gethryn's story. He decides he should tell Norris. In a rugby match, Norris passes the ball to Gethryn. This allows Gethryn to make a dramatic score. Norris explains that Wilson told him the whole story. All is well between them again.
Main Characters at Beckford
Here are some of the important students and staff at Beckford College:
- Alan Gethryn: Nicknamed "the Bishop," he is the Head-prefect of Mr. Leicester's House. He is in the Sixth form and is a top player in both cricket and rugby.
- Marriott: A prefect in Leicester's House and Gethryn's close friend. They share a study.
- Reginald Farnie: Gethryn's uncle, who is four years younger than him. He is a bit arrogant and causes trouble. He is in Leicester's House and the Upper Fourth form.
- Percy V. Wilson: Marriott's reliable fag. He is a younger student in Leicester's House and the Lower Fourth form.
- Pringle: A student in the School House and on the school cricket team. He is in the Remove form. He enjoys disagreeing with others and giving advice.
- Lorimer: A student in the Upper Fifth form who is not good at poetry. He shares a study with Pringle in the School House.
- Reece: A student in Leicester's House and on the First Eleven cricket team. He often remembers long stories.
- Norris: The Head of Jephson's House and the captain of the Beckford cricket team.
- Jack Monk: A troublesome student in Leicester's House and the Remove form. He often causes problems with his group of friends, known as "the Mob."
Beckford Staff and Other People
- The Rev. James Beckett: The Headmaster of Beckford College. He is also the housemaster of the School House.
- Mr. Jephson: A schoolmaster who is in charge of school cricket. He is also the housemaster of Jephson's House.
- Mr. Lawrie: The master of the Sixth form. He wrote a book of poetry using a different name.
- Mr. Mortimer Wells: An old student of the Headmaster's. He is the judge for the poetry contest.
- Colonel Ashby: A friend of Pringle's father.
