Perkins of Portland
The story revolves around Chet Perkins, a young man from Maine who travels to Portland to work as a clerk in a department store. He becomes infatuated with the daughter of his employer and decides to make a name for himself to win her hand. Through a series of comedic misadventures, Chet's attempts at self-promotion lead to chaos and confusion, ultimately threatening his relationships and reputation.
By Ellis Parker Butler · First published 1908 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Fiction · 8 chapters · 29,095 words
First lines
THERE was very little about Perkins that was not peculiar. To mention his peculiarities would be a long task; he was peculiar from the ground up. His shoes had rubber soles, his hat had peculiar mansard ventilators on each side, his garments were vile as to fit, and altogether he had the appearance of being a composite picture.
We first met in the Golden Hotel office in Cleveland, Ohio. I was reading a late copy of a morning paper and smoking a very fairish sort of cigar, when a hand was laid on my arm. I turned and saw in the chair beside me a beaming face.
What this Textopian page supports
Perkins of Portland is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ellis Parker Butler, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Ellis Parker Butler
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Fiction, Short Stories, Adventure
- Length: 29,095 words
- Structure: 8 chapters, 591 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Perkins of Portland by Ellis Parker Butler
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Perkins of Portland?
- How does this novel by Ellis Parker Butler fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The book primarily focuses on comedic elements and humorous situations.
- Satire — It uses satire to critique and mock societal norms and business practices.
- Fiction — The narrative is a work of fiction with imaginative storytelling.
- Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories centered around the character Perkins.
Tags
Humor · Satire · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Fiction · Novel · Comedy · Social Commentary · Portland Oregon · Small Town Life · Quirky Characters · Witty Dialogue
Contents
- MR. PERKINS OF PORTLAND
- THE ADVENTURE OF MR. SILAS BOGGS
- THE ADVENTURE OF THE LAME AND THE HALT
- THE ADVENTURE OF THE FIFTH STREET CHURCH
- THE ADVENTURE IN AUTOMOBILES
- THE ADVENTURE OF THE POET
- THE ADVENTURE OF THE CRIMSON CORD
- THE ADVENTURE OF THE PRINCESS OF PILLIWINK