Freddy the Politician

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Freddy the Politician
Freddy the Politician Cover.jpg
First edition cover (original title) - Mrs. Wiggins the cow in parade.
AuthorWalter R. Brooks
Original titleWiggins for President
IllustratorKurt Wiese
CountryU.S.
LanguageAmerican English
SeriesFreddy the Pig
Genre Children's novel, Comic novel
Publisher A.A. Knopf, The Overlook Press
Publication date
1939 (As Wiggins for President (Knopf), 1948 as Freddy the Politician (Knopf), 2000 as Freddy the Politician (Overlook)
Media typeHardcover, paperback, cassette, and CD
Pages251 (pp. 3 – 253)
ISBN 1-58567-080-4 (Overlook hardcover)
Preceded by'The Clockwork Twin 
Followed by'Freddy’s Cousin Weedly 

Freddy the Politician (1939) is the 6th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In this story, the Bean farm animals start a bank, and elect their first president, two institutions appearing through the rest of the series. Their honest and innocent approach is soon challenged by strangers from Washington.

Contents

Plot summary

To encourage farmer Bean to go on his vacation, the animals decide to elect a president who can manage the farm while he is gone, and to start a bank to manage the farm money.

"'Yes, but how do you start a bank?' asked Eeny.
'Pooh! Nothing to it!' said the cat. 'You just—well, you just open it. Big sign over the door—"BANK." That’s all.'
'Oh,' said Eeny. 'So you call it a bank and then it’s a bank, hey?'
'Sure.'
'Oh,' said Eeny again. 'So then if I call you a big blowhard, what does that make you?'" (pp. 10-11)

During a fierce storm, a lost and exhausted woodpecker finds shelter in the farmhouse. The animals realize that the name John Quincy would be impressive for a bank manager and offer him the job. Freddy gets the job of secretary. Vaults are dug under a shed. The bank is a success, and within a few days the vaults are full. Mr. Bean approves, but when he tells Mr. Weezer, the banker in Centerboro, they have an argument causing Mr. Bean to withdraw all his money and place it in the animal bank.

When Jinx the cat proves uninterested in being a bank officer, John Quincy suggests bringing his father, Grover, from Washington. The woodpeckers proceed to hold a bank board meeting down a tunnel that is too small for Freddy. Since he cannot attend the meetings, control of the bank is taken from the Bean animals.

The woodpeckers also have a plan for winning the election. Since all animals on the farm can vote, the woodpeckers visit the local birds to get their support. Then Simon the rat and his family — old enemies of the Bean animals — show up. The Bean animals realize they must select a popular candidate carefully to avoid the woodpeckers or Simon taking control of the farm. Mrs. Wiggins the cow is chosen for her common sense and public speaking experience. Mrs. Wiggins laughed during the campaigning: the opposition says laughter is out of place in government. Old Whibley the owl calls this balderdash. The woodpeckers challenge Whibley to a duel, but he apologizes.

"'You apologize?' said Grover.
'Certainly. You are a stuffed shirt, and you do talk balderdash, but I apologize for saying so.'
'But that’s no apology,' said John Quincy.
'What do you mean, it’s no apology?' said the owl. 'Either I apologize or I don’t apologize. If I do, it’s an apology, isn’t it?'" (p. 123)

When Freddy comes for advice later about how to handle the woodpeckers, Whibley comments, "'He couldn’t do a ridiculous thing to save his life. That’s why he’s ridiculous all the time.'" (p. 136) Whibley has the practical suggestion for Freddy to dig a hole into the boardroom large enough for him. This done, Freddy blocks the other entrances, and calls a board meeting. The woodpeckers cannot get in, and Freddy votes himself bank president. When the animals find out that Freddy tricked the woodpeckers using the same trick that had been used against him, votes start to shift from the woodpecker party. The animals are “on the whole a good-natured crowd" on election day, but the woodpeckers have schemed to have the votes for Mrs. Wiggins ("W") counted for a party they support "Marcus" ("M", an upsidedown "W"). Freddy retorts that their ballots were probably intended to be for one of other the farm animals with the same initial, too.

Thwarted, Grover takes control of the powerful mechanical man (invented in an earlier book). The woodpeckers overthrow the animal government by force, taking Freddy prisoner. The woodpeckers launch a military campaign to expand their government to nearby farms and eventually the whole state. After they leave, Freddy escapes in disguise as an Irish woman, visiting the Centerboro bank manager to convince him the animal bank is no threat. Once he is on Freddy’s side, they snare Grover with a meeting in town. Grover is trapped in the mechanical man, removed, and replaced. Returning to the farm, the mechanical man instructs the woodpecker’s army to disperse. John Quincy and Grover, beaten on every front, leave the Bean farm peacefully.

Illustrations

There are 34 black and white, pen and ink drawings by Kurt Wiese. Endpapers and a full color slipcover depict scenes from the book. Each chapter starts with a half page illustration, while a full page illustration is placed close to an event within chapters. Unlike later books, four shorter chapters do not have an illustration within the chapter. A full page illustration is the frontispiece from an event on page 101 — making it the only chapter in the series with two full page illustrations. The slipcover is peculiar (at least on the Overlook edition) in that the part of the art on the spine is duplicated. On other Freddy books the spine continues the front illustration seamlessly.

Reception

Novels in the series received modestly positive to strongly positive critical review in sources such as the Times Literary Supplement , and Hornbook, and Kirkus Reviews . One review of the time for this book is among the least favorable, reflecting some librarians' dissatisfaction with the speech in the realistic, modern idiom of New York State.

Library Journal (Sept. 15, 1939) "While this is the sixth book in the series, the spontaneous gaiety of the style is unabated, and the author's sly satire never becomes objectionably unchildlike. These stories have not been so popular as the Dolittle books which they clearly resemble, but libraries where they have a steady following will find this latest volume equal in quality to the others and definitely superior to The Clockwork Twin."

The New York Times (Oct. 8, 1939) "The author has never succeeded in recapturing the spontaneous fun of his first story, To and Again. Though stereotyped in situation and commonplace in style, Wiggins for President tells a lively story and one which many young readers, though perhaps the less imaginative ones, will enjoy. Kurt Wiese's drawings are amusing and expressive." [1]

Publication history

The first edition was published in hardcover in 1939 by A.A. Knopf. [2] The price was $2.00 (over $25.00 in 2008 USD). [3] In terms of a dollar’s value, it is the most expensive new Freddy book released at any time. The book was republished by Knopf in 1986 [4] and in 2000 by Overlook Press [5] using the original illustrations, text and layout.

An audio version is available from Recorded Books , read by John McDonough, running six hours ( ISBN   978-0-7887-9784-2).

Related Research Articles

Freddy the Pig is the central figure in a series of 26 children's books written between 1927 and 1958 by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese, consisting of 25 novels and one poetry collection. The books focus on the adventures of a group of animals living on a farm in rural upstate New York.

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<i>Ender in Exile</i> 2008 novel by Orson Scott Card

Ender in Exile is a science fiction novel by American writer Orson Scott Card, part of the Ender's Game series, published on November 11, 2008. It takes place between the two award-winning novels Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. It could also be considered a parallel novel to the first three sequels in the Shadow Saga, since the entirety of this trilogy takes place in the span of Ender in Exile. The novel concludes a dangling story line of the Shadow Saga, while it makes several references to events that take place during the Shadow Saga. From yet another perspective, the novel expands the last chapter of the original novel Ender's Game. On the one hand, it fills the gap right before the last chapter, and on the other hand, it fills the gap between the last chapter and the original (first) sequel. Ender in Exile begins one year after Ender has won the bugger war, and begins with the short story "Ender's Homecoming" from Card's webzine Intergalactic Medicine Show. Other short stories that were published elsewhere are included as chapters of the novel.

<i>Freddy Goes to the North Pole</i>

Freddy goes to the North Pole (1930) is the second of the Freddy the Pig books written by Walter R. Brooks. It tells of how the animals of the Bean Farm went to rescue some of their animals friends who went on an expedition to the North Pole.

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<i>Freddy Rides Again</i> 1951 childrens book by Walter R. Brooks

Freddy Rides Again (1951) is the 18th book in the children’s series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In it, the talking Bean farm animals confront rich new neighbors who demand changes in the farm community.

<i>Freddy and Mr. Camphor</i>

Freddy and Mr. Camphor (1944) is the 11th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells of Freddy's adventures confronting trespassers when he takes a job as an estate caretaker.

<i>Freddy and the Men from Mars</i>

Freddy and the Men from Mars (1954) is the 22nd book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells the story of the confrontation between Freddy and his friends, phony Martians, real Martians, and a circus con artist.

<i>Freddy the Magician</i>

Freddy the Magician (1947) is the 14th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy is ecstatic over the opportunity to learn magic tricks from a professional. However, it becomes apparent that this is part of a criminal plot to recover stolen money. Freddy and the Bean animals match their magic and wits onstage and offstage against the crooked magician.

<i>Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars</i>

Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars (1955) is the 23rd book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig by American author Walter R. Brooks, illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Capitalizing on Martians' ability to pitch with any of four arms, Freddy creates a baseball team of Martians and circus animals to compete against neighboring towns. An old foe of Freddy's tries to rig the games.

<i>Freddy Goes Camping</i>

Freddy Goes Camping (1948) is the 15th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. When a hotel owner is forced to sell under mysterious circumstances, Freddy and his friend Mr. Camphor pose as campers to investigate.

<i>Freddy the Pilot</i>

Freddy the Pilot (1952) is the 19th book in the humorous children's Freddy the Pig series written by Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. When an airplane from a secret airstrip terrorizes the performances of his friend Mr. Boomschmidt's circus, Freddy learns to fly, then gets a plane to track the criminals and stop their activities.

<i>Freddy the Pied Piper</i>

Freddy the Pied Piper (1946) is the 14th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells the tale of regathering circus animals following World War II, and of earning money to repair the disused circus equipment.

<i>Freddy and the Ignormus</i>

Freddy and the Ignormus (1941) is the 8th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig by author Walter R. Brooks and illustrator Kurt Wiese. There are dramatic reports of a monster in the dark woods near the Bean farm. When local animals are subject to extortion, Freddy and his friends test their bravery confronting the unknown.

<i>The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig</i>

The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig (1953) is the brief 21st book in the humorous American children's series Freddy the Pig. The entire series, which otherwise comprises 25 novels, was written by Walter R. Brooks, illustrated by Kurt Wiese, and published by Alfred A. Knopf. The Collected Poems is primarily a reissue of poems and songs that had appeared in the first 20 novels, although it contains some new poems by Brooks and new illustrations by Wiese. One cover notes, "If it seems a bit hammy in spots, that is to be expected." It was republished in 1962 by Random House, and again in 2001 by the Overlook Press.

<i>Freddy and the Dragon</i>

Freddy and the Dragon (1958) is the 26th and last book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy's attempts to catch the gang extorting money from Centerboro's city folk are hindered by a headless horseman. The dragon created as a circus attraction becomes a tool in fighting crime. The Bean animals settle accounts with the gang and with a long-standing foe.

<i>Freddy and the Bean Home News</i>

Freddy and the Bean Home News (1943) is the tenth book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. The story takes place when the United States was in the middle of World War II.

<i>Freddy and Simon the Dictator</i>

Freddy and Simon the Dictator (1956) is the 24th book in the generally humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells how animals in New York State rebel against humans, destroying property and taking control of farms. At the same time, Freddy’s friend Mr. Camphor is pressured into running for governor. The situations collide when animals take over Camphor’s estate, imprisoning the political figures there.

<i>Freddy Plays Football</i>

Freddy Plays Football (1949) is the 16th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In it, Freddy and the Bean animals try to convince the Beans that Mrs. Bean’s long lost brother is a fake. Freddy lands in jail for stealing the money the fake is attempting to take. In the meanwhile Centerboro is taken with football fever on account of Freddy's playing.

<i>Freddy and the Perilous Adventure</i>

Freddy and the Perilous Adventure (1942) is the ninth book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy, ducks Alice and Emma, and the Webb spiders are cast on a voyage when a fairground balloon will not return to the ground. Days later when landing, Freddy must confront the dishonest balloon owner who received money from Mr. Bean for damages.

References

  1. http://www.mreha.com/page49.html Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Reviews of Published Freddy Books, Mr. Eha.
  2. Freddy the politician. A Freddy adventure. Knopf. 1986. LCCN   85014713.
  3. http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/
  4. Freddy the politician. A Freddy adventure. Knopf. 1986. LCCN   85014713.
  5. Freddy the politician. Overlook Press. 2000. ISBN   9781585670802. LCCN   00042230.