Les Peterkins

The Peterkin family has just moved into a spacious new home, and the relief is palpable. After years of wrestling with cramped closets, misplaced tablecloths and a library scattered between floors, they finally have room for everything in its proper place. Father Peterkin is thrilled by the new study, while the children enjoy the freedom to explore without constant furniture shuffling.

The family decides to turn the house into a multilingual workshop. Each picks a language—Elisabeth‑Elisa will try French, Agamemnon German, Solomon‑John Italian, and Mr. Peterkin Russian and other Eastern tongues. Mrs. Peterkin, terrified of Spain, refuses to learn Spanish, insisting no bridge will ever span the Atlantic.

The story follows their well‑meaning but chaotic attempts to juggle lessons, teachers and daily life, turning ordinary rooms into a modern Babel. Witty observations about misplaced books, confusing dictionaries and family planning capture the charm of domestic life and the excitement of new intellectual adventures.