Figure 1.--The edition of "Eric" looks to have been printed in 1872, several years after the first printing in 1858. I'm not sure how the first edition was illustrated. The illustrator name looks like 'Gordon Browne'. Gordon is clear but the surname does not come up too good but I think it is Browne. |
An early British shool book, but not as well known as Tom Brown's School Days is Eric which was published about the same time. It was written by by Frederick W. Farrar in 1858. The actual title of the book is "Eric, or Little by Little". The author wrote the following preface to the 1889 (24th) edition: "The story of `Eric' was written with but one single object - the vivid inculcation of inward purity and moral purpose, by the history of a boy who, in spite of the inherent nobleness of his disposition, falls into all folly and wickedness, until he has learnt to seek help from above. I am deeply thankful to know - from testimony public and private, anonymous and acknowledged - that this object has, by God's blessing, been fulfilled."
An early British shool book, but not as well known as Tom Brown's School Days is Eric which was published in 1858, about the same time as the better known book about Tom Brown.
The book was written by by Frederick W. Farrar in 1858. The actual title of the book is "Eric, or Little by Little". F.W. Farrar was "Dean of Canterbury". His father was a missionary in India. Upon returing to England, his father became vicar of Sidcup,
Kent,. Frederick was educated at King William's College, Castletown, Isle of Mann. As a teacher he had the admiration of his scholars, and as an ecclesiastic he discharged his duties with peculiar efficiency. His sermons, though written hastily and marked by a somewhat exuberant eloquence, were listened to by thousands. He believed strongly in temperance and social reform and gelped found the Anglican Brotherhood, a religious groups with destinctly modern goals. His rare powers of advocacy were specially devoted to the improvement of public school education and the cause of total abstinence. Dean Farrar's publications were numerous and in varied fields. The earlier of them dealt with pedagogy and philology and included three famous stories of English school-life --- Eric (Edinbburgh, 1858), Julian Home (1859), and St. Winifredís (London, 1862). The book is a real tear jearker and will seem preacy if not sanctimonious to modern readers.
Eric has a hard time at school as a day boy being the object of a good bit of bullying. Despite these difficiculties he is sent to baord at the school. He gets into troubkle when he found using a 'crib' (cheating). Then his real trouble begins when he starts smoking and drinking. He is sent down for a short time, but in the end is blackmailed by the local
publican (pub owner). He decides to run away to sea. He is abused by the ship's captain and becomes very sick. In the end he reforms and dies in a state of grace after returning to his school.
The name of the school in the book is Roslyn School. The book is reportedly to some extent autobiographical. Dr. Farrar drew from his own experience as a boy at King William's College and while teaching at Harrow and Marlborough. .
The author wrote the following preface to the 1889 (24th) edition: "The story of `Eric' was written with but one single object - the vivid inculcation of inward purity and moral purpose, by the history of a boy who, in spite of the inherent nobleness of his disposition, falls into all folly and wickedness, until he has learnt to seek help from above. I am deeply thankful to know - from testimony public and private, anonymous and acknowledged - that this object has, by God's blessing, been fulfilled.
The fact that new editions are still called for thirty-one years after its publication,
shows, I trust, that the story has been found to be of real use. I have not thought it
right to alter in any way the style or structure of the narrative, but I have so far
revised it as to remove a few of the minor blemishes. I trust that the book may
continue to live so long - and so long only - as it may prove to be a source of moral
benefit to those who read it. "
The book was a popular success in the 1850s. It seems to have been especially popular among the working-class which could never dream at sending one of their sons to one of the public schools Farar describes. Apparently the Victorians were acustomed to preacy, moralistic tone of the book. Even a century ago it was seen as overly preachy. Kipling essentially rediculed it in Stalky & Co. This is probably why for such a popular book in its day that it is not highly regarded today.
We have little information about illustrations at this time. The edition of "Eric" seen here looks to have been printed in 1872 (figure 1), several years after the first printing in 1858. I'm not sure how the first edition was illustrated. The illustrator name looks like 'Gordon Browne'. Gordon is clear but the surname does not come up too good but I think it is Browne.
An English reader writes, "A book blessed by God cannot fail!I wonder how many boys read it! Sounds a very interesting read."
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