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Mr. Bultitude is unmoved by the pleading of his fourteen-year-old son Dick that he be spared from returning to Grimstone's tortuous boarding school. During his harangue on the free and easy life of youth, Mr. Bultitude unwisely expresses the wish that he himself might be a boy again - whilst clutching the magical Garuda Stone, which is all too ready to oblige by transforming his outward appearance into that of his son's. To add insult to injury, Dick swiftly seizes the stone - and with it, the opportunity not only to assume his father's mature and portly form, but also gleefully pack Mr. Bultitude off to the hellish halls of Grimstone's...
A magical artifact forces a stern Victorian father and his school-aged son to swap bodies, leading to a chaotic reversal of their social and domestic roles. Mr. Bultitude, a rigid and unsympathetic father, finds his life upended when a wish made upon the Garuda Stone causes him to inhabit the body of his fourteen-year-old son, Dick. Dick, seizing the opportunity for retribution, assumes his father's adult form and sends the elder Bultitude to face the harsh realities of boarding school life. The narrative follows the resulting complications as both characters struggle to navigate the expectations and constraints of their new, unfamiliar identities.
Readers frequently highlight the sharp wit and comedic timing present throughout the narrative. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to satirize the rigid social structures of the Victorian era while maintaining a lighthearted tone. Critics often point to the effective contrast between the father's stuffy demeanor and the son's mischievous exploitation of his newfound authority. The pacing is generally noted for its consistency, keeping the focus on the escalating absurdity of the protagonists' predicaments. Many readers appreciate how the story balances humor with a subtle critique of the lack of empathy between parents and children.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
1981-01-01
Publisher:
Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN-10:
0140052968
ISBN-13:
9780140052961
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