The White Feather

P. G. Wodehouse (1881 - 1975)

Sheen, a member of Seymour's House at Wrykyn School, flees from an unexpected assault by town boys. His colleagues wade into the fight with relish, acquiring bruises and sore heads, but in the fracas, Sheen is missed, and the story makes the rounds of Wrykyn that when blows were traded, Sheen "funked it."

Honor in such institutions depends on reliably standing with your House. As punishment for his defection, Sheen is "cut" - treated as if he did not exist.

In a later expedition into town, Sheen is set upon by the town bullies and finds that when retreat is no option, he can take their blows and fight against odds. Seeing his pluck, bystander Joe Bevan, an ex-champion boxer, offers to tutor Sheen.

Surprisingly, Sheen finds he has a knack for boxing. And with that discovery comes a plan: he will fight for his House in the Lightweight division and win back his honor.

But the best-laid plans... may go awry!

Wodehouse, a humorist, picks up the sober topic of cowardice but treats it with his customary panache.

Genre(s): General Fiction, Humorous Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Expert Opinions Mark F. Smith
00:16:05
Play 02 Sheen at Home Mark F. Smith
00:11:54
Play 03 Sheen Receives Visitors and Advice Mark F. Smith
00:11:23
Play 04 The Better Part of Valour Mark F. Smith
00:12:13
Play 05 The White Feather Mark F. Smith
00:14:31
Play 06 Albert Redivivus Mark F. Smith
00:12:18
Play 07 Mr. Joe Bevan Mark F. Smith
00:11:39
Play 08 A Naval Battle & Its Consequences Mark F. Smith
00:13:11
Play 09 Sheen Begins His Education Mark F. Smith
00:12:23
Play 10 Sheen's Progress Mark F. Smith
00:12:45
Play 11 A Small Incident Mark F. Smith
00:12:11
Play 12 Dunstable and Linton Go Up the River Mark F. Smith
00:09:49
Play 13 Deus ex Machina Mark F. Smith
00:13:20
Play 14 A Skirmish Mark F. Smith
00:10:36
Play 15 The Rout at Ripton Mark F. Smith
00:14:13
Play 16 Drummond Goes Into Retirement Mark F. Smith
00:10:33
Play 17 Seymour's One Success Mark F. Smith
00:13:08
Play 18 Mr. Bevan Makes a Suggestion Mark F. Smith
00:13:39
Play 19 Paving the Way Mark F. Smith
00:12:59
Play 20 Sheen Goes to Aldershot Mark F. Smith
00:10:20
Play 21 A Good Start Mark F. Smith
00:06:48
Play 22 A Good Finish Mark F. Smith
00:12:14
Play 23 A Surprise for Seymour's Mark F. Smith
00:17:37
Play 24 Bruce Explains Mark F. Smith
00:11:01