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Rudder Grange
One evening Euphemia and I were sitting, rather disconsolately, in our room, and I was reading out the advertisements of country board in a newspaper, searching for a home, when in rushed Dr. Heare -- one of our old friends. He was so full of something that he had to say that he didn't even ask us how we were. In fact, he didn't appear to want to know. "I tell you what it is," said he, "I have found just the very thing you want. A canal-boat." To live in? A canal-boat for a home? We sat up until twenty minutes past two, talking about that house. We ceased to call it a boat at about a quarter of eleven. The next day I "took" the boat and paid a month's rent in advance. Three days afterward we moved into it. One of our earliest subjects of discussion was the name of our homestead. We found it no easy matter to select an appropriate title. I proposed a number of appellations intended to suggest the character of our home. Among these were: "Safe Ashore," "Firmly Grounded," but Euphemia did not fancy any of them. "Partitionville" she objected to, and "Gangplank Terrace" did not suit her because it suggested convicts going out to work. At last, after days of talk and cogitation, we named our house "Rudder Grange." To be sure, it wasn't exactly a grange, but then it had such an enormous rudder that the justice of that part of the title seemed to overbalance any little inaccuracy in the other portion. . . .
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1880
4 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Frank R. Stockton
428 books67 followersFrank Richard Stockton was an American writer and humorist, best known today for a series of innovative children's fairy tales that were widely popular during the last decades of the 19th century. Stockton avoided the didactic moralizing common to children's stories of the time, instead using clever humor to poke at greed, violence, abuse of power and other human foibles, describing his fantastic characters' adventures in a charming, matter-of-fact way.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 13, 2015
3.5 stars.
Probably not a book I'll reread, or even buy, but it was a witty and well-written tale. The couple starts out quite naive and learns along the way to be wiser. There are some truly hilarious episodes, some of which reminded me of the classic movie "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home" (I think that's the right title.). There is no main plot, and in a sense, the ethereal "Rudder Grange", the name they call the place they live, is the main character. It was good to listen to, though, and made for a pleasant passage of time.
Probably not a book I'll reread, or even buy, but it was a witty and well-written tale. The couple starts out quite naive and learns along the way to be wiser. There are some truly hilarious episodes, some of which reminded me of the classic movie "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home" (I think that's the right title.). There is no main plot, and in a sense, the ethereal "Rudder Grange", the name they call the place they live, is the main character. It was good to listen to, though, and made for a pleasant passage of time.
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August 5, 2014Read this book for free through Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2011/2...
June 30, 2022
Proof that humor can be both gentle and wicked (at the same time.)
Few people today know the writer Frank Stockton, although older ones may remember his famous story "The Lady or the Tiger?" It was a standard in English classes for decades, but I suspect it's been replaced by something more "relevant."
Stockton was a Philadelphia writer and editor. His children's stories were popular because they left out syrupy moralizing in favor of fantasy and humor. Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are") said that his writing was inspired by Stockton's belief that children don't have to be talked down to or preached at.
"Rudder Grange" was Stockton's first novel for adults and was published in 1879. I think it's charming and frequently hilarious, although I'm not sure if it will appeal to younger readers. It's about a young married couple who rent a canal boat to live on and name it "Rudder Grange." That only makes sense if you know that "Grange" was incorporated into many house names at that time. And, of course, the canal boat has a rudder, even though it's a stationary houseboat. Or supposed to be.
The narrator and his wife Euphemia (we never learn his first name or their last name) don't really want to live on a boat, but it's all they can afford. In the days of their courtship, the pair wrote a book on how to finance setting up a household. Sadly, when they try to follow their own advice, rents and building costs and furnishings proved to be much more expensive than they anticipated. So they settle into the shabby houseboat, eventually adding a boarder (again, never named) and a maid.
Both the boarder and Pomona turn out to be strong-minded people with their own ideas, some of them quite dangerous. Eventually, the aged canal boat sinks under the weight of all their good ideas and the young couple must find a house.
By going out into the country a bit further than they had planned, they find a house they can afford and decide to call it "Rudder Grange" in honor of their first home. Pomona turns up again - older, but with just as many quirks and just as opinionated.
The narrator and his wife are both kind-hearted people, perhaps too much so for their own good. Euphemia is intelligent and enthusiastic, but suffers from a surplus of optimism. Her husband prides himself on his sturdy common sense and stern attention to detail, but he's even less realistic than his wife. Their lives - improving their house and grounds, adding farm animals, dealing with neighbors or tradesmen, or going on vacation - always veer off into unexpected and very funny detours.
A great deal of the humor is that the narrator NEVER anticipates disaster. His astonishment that one of his careful plans could go wrong is part of the fun. Pomona shares this trait and her honeymoon trip is a lulu.
The best way I can describe this book is that it's like the family sitcoms of the 1950's. The husband and wife are in love and care about each other's happiness. They're not stupid people, but their planning is always a bit off and things never work out as they plan. In the end, they deal with the problems (of their own creation) and go merrily on. They are sometimes taken advantage of, but are too happy to let it bother them for long.
It sounds unrealistic, but it really isn't. The problems of life haven't changed that much in 140 years because human nature hasn't changed at all. Happy people always come out ahead simply because they ARE happy. I enjoyed this book. And you're not risking a thing because it's absolutely FREE.
Few people today know the writer Frank Stockton, although older ones may remember his famous story "The Lady or the Tiger?" It was a standard in English classes for decades, but I suspect it's been replaced by something more "relevant."
Stockton was a Philadelphia writer and editor. His children's stories were popular because they left out syrupy moralizing in favor of fantasy and humor. Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are") said that his writing was inspired by Stockton's belief that children don't have to be talked down to or preached at.
"Rudder Grange" was Stockton's first novel for adults and was published in 1879. I think it's charming and frequently hilarious, although I'm not sure if it will appeal to younger readers. It's about a young married couple who rent a canal boat to live on and name it "Rudder Grange." That only makes sense if you know that "Grange" was incorporated into many house names at that time. And, of course, the canal boat has a rudder, even though it's a stationary houseboat. Or supposed to be.
The narrator and his wife Euphemia (we never learn his first name or their last name) don't really want to live on a boat, but it's all they can afford. In the days of their courtship, the pair wrote a book on how to finance setting up a household. Sadly, when they try to follow their own advice, rents and building costs and furnishings proved to be much more expensive than they anticipated. So they settle into the shabby houseboat, eventually adding a boarder (again, never named) and a maid.
Both the boarder and Pomona turn out to be strong-minded people with their own ideas, some of them quite dangerous. Eventually, the aged canal boat sinks under the weight of all their good ideas and the young couple must find a house.
By going out into the country a bit further than they had planned, they find a house they can afford and decide to call it "Rudder Grange" in honor of their first home. Pomona turns up again - older, but with just as many quirks and just as opinionated.
The narrator and his wife are both kind-hearted people, perhaps too much so for their own good. Euphemia is intelligent and enthusiastic, but suffers from a surplus of optimism. Her husband prides himself on his sturdy common sense and stern attention to detail, but he's even less realistic than his wife. Their lives - improving their house and grounds, adding farm animals, dealing with neighbors or tradesmen, or going on vacation - always veer off into unexpected and very funny detours.
A great deal of the humor is that the narrator NEVER anticipates disaster. His astonishment that one of his careful plans could go wrong is part of the fun. Pomona shares this trait and her honeymoon trip is a lulu.
The best way I can describe this book is that it's like the family sitcoms of the 1950's. The husband and wife are in love and care about each other's happiness. They're not stupid people, but their planning is always a bit off and things never work out as they plan. In the end, they deal with the problems (of their own creation) and go merrily on. They are sometimes taken advantage of, but are too happy to let it bother them for long.
It sounds unrealistic, but it really isn't. The problems of life haven't changed that much in 140 years because human nature hasn't changed at all. Happy people always come out ahead simply because they ARE happy. I enjoyed this book. And you're not risking a thing because it's absolutely FREE.
July 25, 2017
Funny and cute. It's interesting to see how things have changed over the last 100 years or more and how some things are the same. This is a tale of newlyweds and their search for a perfect home. You can read it for free (just Google the title or look on Gutenbergpress.org).
Here is a funny bit about mortgages as the wife tries to convince her husband that it would be possible for them to build their own home:
"No, you needn't have any money," said Euphemia, rather hastily. "Just let me show you. Supposing, for instance, that you want to build a house worth—well, say twenty thousand dollars, in some pretty town near the city,"
"I would rather figure on a cheaper house than that for a country place," I interrupted.
"Well, then, say two thousand dollars. You get masons and carpenters, and people to dig the cellar, and you engage them to build your house. You needn't pay them until it's done, of course. Then when it's all finished, borrow two thousand dollars and give the house as security. After that, you see, you have only to pay the interest on the borrowed money. When you save enough money to pay back the loan, the house is your own. Now isn't that a good plan?"
"Yes," said I, "if there could be found people who would build your house and wait for their money until someone would lend you its full value on a mortgage."
"Well," said Euphemia, "I guess they could be found, if you would only look for them."
"I'll look for them when I go to heaven," I said.
Here is a funny bit about mortgages as the wife tries to convince her husband that it would be possible for them to build their own home:
"No, you needn't have any money," said Euphemia, rather hastily. "Just let me show you. Supposing, for instance, that you want to build a house worth—well, say twenty thousand dollars, in some pretty town near the city,"
"I would rather figure on a cheaper house than that for a country place," I interrupted.
"Well, then, say two thousand dollars. You get masons and carpenters, and people to dig the cellar, and you engage them to build your house. You needn't pay them until it's done, of course. Then when it's all finished, borrow two thousand dollars and give the house as security. After that, you see, you have only to pay the interest on the borrowed money. When you save enough money to pay back the loan, the house is your own. Now isn't that a good plan?"
"Yes," said I, "if there could be found people who would build your house and wait for their money until someone would lend you its full value on a mortgage."
"Well," said Euphemia, "I guess they could be found, if you would only look for them."
"I'll look for them when I go to heaven," I said.
May 25, 2024
Not my cup of tea... I got about 1/2 through and couldn't take anymore.
October 30, 2014
Stockton's wit and charm comes through in the stories detailing the adventures of a sweet, naïve married couple. This book reads like a children's fable, but with adult themes mixed in, including themes of marriage and relationships, money and social class, and striving to belong and feel settled. I found myself laughing aloud at times throughout the book due to Stockton's dead-pan humor. A fun, short, simple, and refreshing read.
May 19, 2016
Unexceptional, inoffensive domestic novel. Nothing in particular to recommend it.
April 15, 2016
A phrase I heard often in my childhood seems appropriate -- good clean fun!
April 11, 2017
I have had an 1879 edition of this novel in my possession for over thirty years, which I began reading before I married and finally re-read and completed as a result of a New Year's Resolution to read a particular shelf of books which I own this year at the pace of one a month. This was my March selection.
What fun it was to meet the indomitable heroine Euphemia, wife of the narrator. She seemed at times like the comic character Lucy, of "I Love Lucy" fame. In actuality her husband held her in high esteem and where she often got them into unexpected predicaments she just as often got them out of them.
The couple first attempts to set up housekeeping according to a book they wrote together and find it cannot be done as cheaply as they claimed. They proceed to move into a houseboat and there are episodes about acquiring furniture, making improvements, taking on a boarder, hiring a housekeeper, warding off a robbery, losing their house first to the oversight of the anchor and later to an "improvement" devised by the hired girl.
Next the couple acquires a home in the country which leads to episodes about guard dogs, tramps, salesmen, vacations, keeping chickens, renting a baby, and other hilarious antics.
The book is now in public domain, the author being deceased for over a hundred years. This would make a fun film or mini-series.
What fun it was to meet the indomitable heroine Euphemia, wife of the narrator. She seemed at times like the comic character Lucy, of "I Love Lucy" fame. In actuality her husband held her in high esteem and where she often got them into unexpected predicaments she just as often got them out of them.
The couple first attempts to set up housekeeping according to a book they wrote together and find it cannot be done as cheaply as they claimed. They proceed to move into a houseboat and there are episodes about acquiring furniture, making improvements, taking on a boarder, hiring a housekeeper, warding off a robbery, losing their house first to the oversight of the anchor and later to an "improvement" devised by the hired girl.
Next the couple acquires a home in the country which leads to episodes about guard dogs, tramps, salesmen, vacations, keeping chickens, renting a baby, and other hilarious antics.
The book is now in public domain, the author being deceased for over a hundred years. This would make a fun film or mini-series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews