The Wrong Box by Robert Louis Stevenson

"The Wrong Box" is a comic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne that revolves around a tontine, a financial arrangement where a group of individuals invests money, and the last surviving member inherits the total sum. The story follows the Finsbury brothers, Joseph and Masterman, who are among the last surviving members of a tontine. Joseph, a whimsical and eccentric character, has lived a carefree life, while Masterman is more responsible but has fallen into a state of decline. As the narrative unfolds, Joseph's financial mismanagement leads to a significant deficit in the inheritance, causing tension between him and his nephew, Morris. Morris, who is burdened with the responsibility of managing the family finances, becomes increasingly frustrated with Joseph's incompetence. The plot thickens when news of a potential payout from the tontine arises, prompting Morris to seek legal advice from his cousin Michael, who is skeptical about the tontine's legitimacy. The story takes a darkly humorous turn when a train accident occurs, resulting in chaos and the presumed death of Joseph. In a panic, Morris and John, his brother, attempt to conceal the body, leading to a series of absurd and comedic situations. The novel explores themes of greed, incompetence, and the absurdity of life, ultimately culminating in a farcical resolution that highlights the folly of the characters' pursuits.

By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1889 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Fiction · 16 chapters · 71,303 words

First lines

How very little does the amateur, dwelling at home at ease, comprehend the labours and perils of the author, and, when he smilingly skims the surface of a work of fiction, how little does he consider the hours of toil, consultation of authorities, researches in the Bodleian, correspondence with learned and illegible Germans -- in one word, the vast scaffolding that was first built up and then knocked down, to while away an hour for him in a railway train! Thus I might begin this tale with a biography of Tonti -- birthplace, parentage, genius probably inherited from his mother, remarkable instance of precocity, etc -- and a complete treatise on the system to which he bequeathed his name. The material is all beside me in a pigeon-hole, but I scorn to appear vainglorious. Tonti is dead, and I never saw anyone who even pretended to regret him; and, as for the tontine system, a word will suffice for all the purposes of this unvarnished narrative.

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The Wrong Box is listed on Textopian as a novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1889 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
• Date: 1889 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Comedy, Satire, Fiction, Adventure, Drama
• Length: 71,303 words
• Structure: 16 chapters, 1,316 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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• Work identity for The Wrong Box by Robert Louis Stevenson
• 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

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Genres

• Comedy — The book employs humor and satire to explore themes of family dynamics, financial misadventures, and the absurdity of life, characteristic of comedic literature.
• Satire — It critiques societal norms, particularly regarding wealth and familial obligations, using exaggerated characters and situations to highlight the folly of human behavior.
• Fiction — As a work of fiction, it presents a narrative that revolves around fictional characters and events, exploring their relationships and conflicts.
• Adventure — The characters embark on a journey filled with unexpected events, including a train accident, which adds an element of adventure to the plot.

Tags

comedy · satire · adventure · mystery · inheritance · family · deception · burial · misunderstanding · dark humor · Victorian · absurdity

Contents

• In which Morris Suspects
• In which Morris Takes Action
• The Lecturer at Large
• The Magistrate in the Luggage Van
• Mr Gideon Forsyth and the Gigantic Box
• The Tribulations of Morris: Part the First
• In which William Dent Pitman Takes Legal Advice
• In which Michael Finsbury Enjoys a Holiday
• Glorious Conclusion of Michael Finsbury's Holiday
• Gideon Forsyth and the Broadwood Grand
• The Maestro Jimson
• Positively the Last Appearance of the Broadwood Grand
• The Tribulations of Morris: Part the Second
• William Bent Pitman Hears of Something to his Advantage
• The Return of the Great Vance
• Final Adjustment of the Leather Business

More by Robert Louis Stevenson

• Treasure Island (1883)
• The Pavilion on the Links (1909)
• Olalla (1885)
• A Child's Garden of Verses (1885)
• Father Damien, An Open Letter To The Reverend Doctor Hyde Of Honolulu (1914)
• A Lowden Sabbath Morn (1916)
• Songs of Travel and Other Verses (1908)
• Prayers Written At Vailima (1916)
• All works by Robert Louis Stevenson