The Story of the Peasant-Boy Philosopher: Or, "The Child Gathering Pebbles on the Sea-Shore" (1854)

Originally published in 1954, this scarce classic details the partially fictionalized life of Ferguson, ‘The Shepherd’. This wonderful tale was written for the young mind with education at its core. The Child Gathering Pebbles on the Sea-Shore was written more to create a taste for learning rather than to provide a platform for ‘cramming’, the author believing that the act of teaching relies more on the excitation of attention on a subject, and that in order to achieve this it is essential for the reader to experience a vivid sense of pleasure in connection with it. As such, this marvellous tale is full of wonder and excitement, and constitutes an ideal bedtime choice for discerning parents across the globe. Henry Mayhew was a journalist, English social researcher, playwright and advocate of reform. This text is republished with a new biography of the author.