The History of Mr. John Decastro and His Brother Bat, Commonly Called Old Crab

John Mathers

ISBN 10: 0461737531 / ISBN 13: 9780461737530

Published by HardPress, 2021

Print on Demand. Seller Inventory # 410577671

Synopsis:

The History Of Mr. John Decastro And His Brother Bat, Commonly Called Old Crab by John Mathers is a satirical novel that follows the rise and fall of a London financier, Mr. John Decastro, and his elder brother Bartholomew (known as Old Crab). The brothers’ fortunes diverge as Decastro’s vast wealth outstrips his ability to manage it, while Old Crab, with stern frugality and practical shrewdness, aims to preserve the family’s name and lands. After a period of debt, misrule, and social embarrassment, Old Crab intervenes—settling debts, divesting unnecessary expenditures, and guiding the family toward Berkshire’s Oaken Grove where the restored balance of wealth and virtue gradually emerges. The narrative skewers London society, creditor culture, and theatrical displays of hospitality, while detailing a moral transformation: conversion to Christianity, prudence, and responsibility. Alongside the main arc, a constellation of characters—Petticraft the lawyer, the Earl of Budemere, Lord Delamere, Lady Budemere, and Mrs. Perrimont—populate a burlesque world where vanity and pride are punctured through episodes such as the infamous chalk door inscription and the pork-and-butter shop scheme. The work blends humor with social critique, delivering a lively tale of repentance, family duty, and the rebirth of a fortune.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The History of Mr. John Decastro and His ...
Publisher: HardPress
Publication Date: 2021
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New