Project Gutenberg 1996-12-01 Public domain in the USA. 142 Beerbohm, Max, Sir 1872 1956 Beerbohm, Henry Maximilian, Sir James Pethel From "Seven Men". Produced by Judith Boss "James Pethel" by Sir Max Beerbohm is a reflective narrative written during the early 20th century. This work can be categorized as a character sketch or brief memoir that explores the themes of luck, mortality, and human relationships through the life of the titular character, James Pethel. The story poses an intricate examination of Pethel's personality and his intriguing presence as a wealthy, adventurous gambler renowned for his good fortune, while offering insights into how such a character resonates with others, particularly the author. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of the unnamed narrator, who recalls his first encounter with Pethel in Dieppe during a baccarat game, captivated by his seemingly ordinary yet stable demeanor amidst gamblers characterized by excess. As their acquaintance deepens, the narrator learns more about Pethel's life — his wealth, marriage to a barmaid, and passion for adventure and risk-taking. The bond between Pethel and his family, especially his daughter, highlights contrasting dynamics, particularly the narrator's observations about Pethel’s relationship with his wife, who seems disconnected from the excitement of his life. Ultimately, the sketch reveals underlying tensions and the fragility of Pethel’s luck, culminating in his sudden demise from a heart condition, which serves as a poignant reminder of the inevitable outcomes of a life lived on the edge. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 81.4 (6th grade). Easy to read. en Short stories Character sketches Gambling -- Fiction PR Text Category: Novels Category: British Literature 73250 2025-07-01T07:05:49.837470 text/html 73071 73014 2025-01-01T07:31:06.810842 2023-10-01T06:43:55.618925 text/html text/html 97536 2025-07-01T07:05:54.233449 application/epub+zip 96454 2025-07-01T07:05:52.170487 application/epub+zip 91212 2025-07-01T07:05:51.176540 application/epub+zip 179358 2025-07-01T07:05:55.733459 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 173113 2025-07-01T07:05:53.656475 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 139999 2022-09-01T08:01:23.957984 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 62727 2025-07-01T07:05:49.509484 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 62614 2021-01-01T11:40:37 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 25111 2021-01-01T11:40:37 text/plain; charset=us-ascii application/zip 18355 2025-07-01T07:05:55.851429 application/rdf+xml 12230 2025-07-01T07:05:51.661452 image/jpeg 3289 2025-07-01T07:05:51.416448 image/jpeg 96429 2025-07-01T07:05:49.844484 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia