Just David
(1916) is an American novel by Eleanor Porter. It centers around David, a ten years old boy who gets into a barn with his dad for shelter one day. The dad dies peacefully in his sleep and the two gets discovered by an adult couple, the owners of the barn. After finding out the dad is dead they decide to adopt the boy. David learns to adapt to living with the villagers; along the way, the villagers and his adoptive parents adapt as much to him.
The story is in the Public Domain so it can be read freely online.
Tropes
- No Full Name Given: In chapter 3, when Simeon Holly and his wife find David, they ask for his last name and he answers he does not know.
- Shout-Out:
- In chapter 9, the narrator mentions David had copies of Dare Devil Dick, Pirates Of Pigeon Cove, Lady of the Lake, Treasure Island, David Copperfield, Robinson Crusoe, Arabian Nights and Grimm's Fairy Tales.
- The Prince and the Pauper gets mentioned in chapter 17 and Sherlock Holmes in chapter 25.
- Title Drop: In chapter 3, when Simeon Holly and his wife find David and ask for his last name and he answers he is "just David".
- In chapter 10, someone else asks for his last name and he answers with "just David" yet again.
