
In a cramped, dust‑laden room on a poor street of Millsborough, a newborn fights his first breath under the watchful eye of a seasoned midwife named Mrs. Plumberry. The nervous young doctor, uneasy about his first delivery, watches the infant’s vigorous kicks and hears the midwife’s blunt wisdom about survival. From the very start, the baby—named Anthony John—exhibits a fierce, fighting instinct that hints at the harsh world awaiting him. The mother, hopeful yet weary, clings to the belief that a strong son will help support the family’s struggling workshop.
As Anthony grows, the streets of Millsborough become a proving ground where compassion and cruelty sit side by side. He learns early that the same hands that cradle him can also shove him aside, and that survival often depends on a blend of stubbornness and unexpected kindness. The narrative follows his early attempts to carve out a place amid poverty, family expectation, and the ever‑present threat of being overlooked. Listeners will be drawn into a world where each small victory feels hard‑won, setting the stage for a compelling journey.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (318K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Tim Lindell, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2021-10-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1859–1927
Best remembered for the comic classic Three Men in a Boat, this English writer had a gift for turning everyday mishaps into warm, sharp humor. His work helped make late-Victorian comedy feel lively, modern, and very human.
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