The Peterkin Papers

By Lucretia P. Hale

Book Overview

"The Peterkin Papers" is a beloved collection of humorous tales that chronicles the absurd misadventures of the Peterkin family. These stories have delighted readers for generations with their whimsical portrayal of a family that possesses an abundance of good intentions but a complete lack of common sense. From trying to decide what to do when their tea is too salty to figuring out how to move a piano, the Peterkins find themselves in the most ridiculous predicaments, often requiring the intervention of the sensible Lady from Philadelphia to provide a simple, logical solution.

This classic of American children's literature serves as a gentle satire of the earnest yet impractical nature of Victorian-era domestic life. The characters-Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin, Agamemnon, Elizabeth Eliza, Solomon John, and the Little Boys-remain enduring figures in the world of literary humor. "The Peterkin Papers" is a testament to the power of wit and the timeless appeal of a family that, despite its many follies, remains heartwarmingly optimistic. It is an essential read for those who appreciate clever storytelling and the enduring charm of high-spirited nonsense.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025902521
• ISBN13: 9781025902524
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

the most marvelous book...

don't overlook this little book...you don't have to read them all, but the image of the salted coffee, or the Peterkins trying to pack, or Elizabeth Eliza sitting on the porch to practice the piano is something everyone should have in his mind to provide a little chuckle from time to time. And that sweet, patient Lady from Philadelphia...every fool needs someone like her for a friend. Everyone needs her for a good example of loving patience with all those goofs who are trying their best and still messing up. This edition seems to have the nice old illustrations the edition I grew up with had, which is good. They really enhanced the stories.

most of the humor is timeless, only a few sections don't age as well

My kids and I were laughing out loud through most of this book. The Peterkins are a lovably bumbling family who can't solve the simplest of problems. The first chapter confused us all a bit in the beginning. We thought we must have missed some small detail, because surely no family could be quite so foolish. Luckily for readers, the Peterkins really are extremely silly, which makes for a very entertaining read. The early chapters provided a lot of funny tales. My kids retell the stories and have taken to asking things like "Oh my gosh, can you imagine what the Peterkins would do now?" The characters in this book are just fantastic, and by the time the reader gets to the story of the Peterkins' tea party, it's easy to understand the large turnout - who would miss a chance to meet these wonderfully goofy people? I subtracted a star because there are some sections of the book that didn't age quite as well. We didn't get much out of the section about the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia; it was probably funnier at the time. There is also some commentary about skin color during their Egyptian trip that made us uncomfortable, but the comments are understandable in historical context. Even though we didn't find every story equally enjoyable, there are some real gems in the book. I am so glad to have read about the Peterkins' attempts to grow wise, the accommodations made for a too-tall Christmas tree, and their extraordinarily unique response to a heavy snow. These stories alone would be worth the price of the book.

It isn't exactly that they're stupid.

Quite the reverse. They just don't have a lick of common sense among them. If there is a simple solution to a problem and a complicated one, the simple solution simply won't occur to them. Their minds just don't work the way ordinary people's do. Imagine an entire family with varying degrees of Asperger's Syndrome. And the poor Old Lady from Philadelphia! I'm sure she sometimes just wants to take a baseball bat and knock some common sense into them. This is a wonderful book to read aloud to children. If reading to a group, one should stop just before the family goes to see the Old Lady and ask what you think she will suggest. Nine out of ten times, the children will come up with the same solution as the Old Lady; if not exactly the same one, then something equally sensible.

A Classic

Lucretia P Hale's, The Peterkin Papers is as wonderful today as I'm sure it was in 1880, when it was originally published. Meet the Peterkins, a nineteenth century family, totally lacking in common sense and enjoy their troubles and adventures as they muddle through life's challenges. For example, what do the Peterkins do when their daughter, Eliza Elizabeth's piano is delivered and set in front of the living room window backwards. They solve this problem by simply opening the window and she sits outside, on the porch playing and practicing. This is all fine during the summer, but when fall and winter arrive, it becomes too cold for her to sit out, even in her winter coat. Enter the lady from Philadelphia...she's so wise that she always has a quick solution to these tough Peterkin problems. "But why don't you turn the piano 'round?" And the Peterkins are always amazed that they didn't think of that. As Mrs Peterkins says, "What shall we do when the lady, from Philadelphia goes home again?" This is a delightful book of short chapters, each detailing a glich in the Peterkin's lives, that will charm and amuse your family, as it has families for many generations. The Peterkin Papers is an American classic and the perfect read-aloud book the whole family can share together.

Great for reading aloud. Engineers will enjoy the humor.

The basic Peterkin formula: the Peterkins are stupid, yetlogical. They are completely devoid of common sense. Theyget into complicated situations and try to work their way out by adding complexity. Eventually they consult the wise old lady from Philadelphia, who always has a sensible, commonplace, wise, BORING answer. The stories are also an unforgettable picture of daily life in what seems to be a suburb of Boston in the early nineteenth century, almost an Eastern version of "Little House on the Prairie." And somehow there is an impression of a _slightly_ dysfunctional family that manages to muddle through, through with warmth, affection, and mutual tolerance. Stories are just the right length for reading aloud. Anyone eight years old or older will appreciate the humor.