
A SON OF THE STATE
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
In the noisy heart of early‑1900s London, a wiry street‑kid named Bobbie Lancaster darts through crowded courts and bustling pubs, his quick wit and sharp tongue matching the clamor around him. When a sudden accident erupts near the public house, the boy finds himself thrust into the centre of a frantic police inquest, his testimony suddenly worth more than the cheap handkerchief he tucks a shilling into. The scene is alive with brash characters—a fiery shopkeeper, a gruff constable, and a nervous carpenter—each adding their own colour to the chaotic scramble for answers.
As the authorities scramble to piece together what happened, Bobbie’s youthful perspective becomes both a liability and a surprising advantage. He must navigate the pressure of adult expectations while staying true to his own street‑wise instincts, all under the watchful eyes of curious onlookers. The story captures a vivid slice of urban life, where the line between innocence and responsibility blurs in the rush of the crowd.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (353K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2018-08-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1859–1930
Known for warm humor and sharp observation, this English novelist wrote vividly about everyday London life, especially working-class and lower-middle-class characters. His fiction found a wide readership in the late Victorian and Edwardian years, with Mord Em'ly among his best-known successes.
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