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The Great Brain (Children Books & Novel)
The Great Brain is a series of popular children’s books by John Dennis Fitzgerald, set in the small town of Edenville, Utah, from 1896 to 1898. The stories are based on the author’s childhood experiences and revolve primarily around the cleverness and mischief of Tom Dennis Fitzgerald, aka “The Great Brain”. Tom amazes the entire town, including his younger brother John, with his intelligence and cunning. The stories feature Tom’s unique business acumen, his campaigns to rescue friends, and his ways of dealing with social problems. Tom’s Helping Andy: Tom gives Andy, who lost his leg in an accident, courage and enables him to move forward in life.
Abby’s Death: The tragic end of Abby’s life is a turning point in these stories, teaching children to face the realities of life. Punishment from the Teacher: In a story, Tom is punished by his teacher, which reminds him of his school days. The Great Brain is a treasure trove of entertaining and educational stories for children. The series presents themes of intelligence, friendship, and family relationships in a humorous and emotional way, which is why it is popular with readers around the world.
John Dennis Fitzgerald wrote the series in the first person, while Mercer Mayer illustrated most of the books. In 1995, “The Great Brain Is Back” was illustrated by Diane deGroat. A successful film version of the books was also released in 1978, with Jimmy Osmond in the lead role.
The book series is still considered one of the best stories in children’s literature and symbolizes timeless tales of intelligence, adventure, and friendship.
The Great Brain
| The Great Brain | |
| Urdu Name | عظیم دماغ |
| Author | John D. Fitzgerald |
| Illustrator | Mercer Mayer |
| Cover artist | Mercer Mayer |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | children’s fiction, American history |
| Publisher | Dial Press |
| Published | 1967 – 1995 |
| Characters | Tom Dennis Fitzgerald, Aunt Cathie · See more |
Background
Although John Dennis Fitzgerald was born in Price, Utah, several clues in the setting of the “Great Brain” stories indicate that the fictional town of Edenville is located in southwestern Utah, known as “Dixie Utah.” A small village called “Edenville” existed for a short time near Cedar City, but little is known about it in history.
The publisher’s note to the posthumous book The Great Brain Is Back recounts the beginning of the series. Fitzgerald first wrote two novels for adult readers:
- Papa Married a Mormon (1955)
- Mama’s Boarding House (1958)-
Both novels are set in Edenville in the late 19th century. Fitzgerald’s editor E. L. Doctorow requested a third book, but he soon left his job. Fitzgerald wrote a new novel based on the lives of the Edenville children and sent it to Doctorow at The Dial Press.
Family stories were not popular with adult readers at the time, but a new children’s book editor offered to publish the story, on the condition that the novel be shortened and the adult-oriented material removed. Thus was born The Great Brain.
The series is based on interesting and instructive stories about children’s lives, intelligence, and family values, and is still considered an important part of children’s literature today.
Titles in the Great Brain series
The Great Brain (1967)
- More Adventures of the Great Brain (1969)
- Me and My Little Brain (1971)
- The Great Brain at the Academy (1972)
- The Great Brain Reforms (1973)
- The Return of the Great Brain (1974)
- The Great Brain Does It Again (1976)
- The Great Brain Is Back (1995 – published posthumously with the author’s loose notes).
These books are based on themes of children’s intelligence, friendship, and adventure and still hold a special place in the hearts of readers today.
The Great Brain Series Main Characters
The Fitzgerald Family:
John Dennis “J.D.” Fitzgerald:
The narrator of the series and the youngest brother.Thomas “Tom” Dennis “T.D.” Fitzgerald Jr.:
The middle brother, intelligent and cunning. He is known as the “Great Brain”, and his exploits are the basis of the story.Sven Dennis “S.D.” Fitzgerald:
The oldest brother who often exposes Tom’s schemes.Thomas Dennis Fitzgerald Sr. (“Papa”):
The head of the family, a respected newspaper editor.Tina “Mama” Fitzgerald:
The caring mother of the family, of Danish-Scandinavian descent.
Other major characters
Frankie Pennyworth:
A traumatized orphan boy who is adopted by the Fitzgerald family.Aunt Bertha:
The family’s loyal maid, who is like an “aunt” to them.Uncle Mark:
The town marshal, who saved Frankie.Aunt Kathy:
Mark’s wife and Papa’s sister, who plays a key role in Frankie’s adoption.These characters entertain readers with interesting tales of family, cunning, and humanity in the stories.
Religious Demographics
The diversity of religious demographics in Edenville reflects an interesting and complex reality, with Catholics in the minority and the rest following a variety of religions. Catholicism plays an important role in family life, especially for those who mostly follow other religions. Protestants and Mormons are more numerous in the town, and specific leaders and services are provided for their worship, while Catholic practices have limited opportunities.
The absence of a Jewish community is an important social reality, as illustrated by the story of Abi Glassman, a Jewish peddler who was not welcomed in Edenville. In addition, questions are raised about the religious identity of the Greek community, especially with regard to Basil Koukounis and his family, whose religious identity is unclear.
Educational Landscape
Papa, who immigrated to Edenville from the northeastern United States, is the only person in the town to have received a college education. Most of Edenville’s other adults lacked formal education, but Papa was still considered the smartest person in town, as he was the only Edenville resident to have earned a college degree.
Papa also lamented the fact that most boys in Edenville had limited education because most careers and apprenticeships required education up to the eighth grade, and Edenville lacked elementary education. To address this deficiency, Papa sought to expand elementary education and provided assistance in the process.
Edenville's Educational Landscape
Edenville had a one-room schoolhouse, where a single teacher taught first through sixth grades. In addition, Papa sent his sons Tom and Sven to a Catholic boarding academy in Salt Lake City. The academy was for boys in the seventh and eighth grades and is the subject of much discussion in The Great Brain. The Jesuit priests enforced strict discipline at the academy, and the curriculum was much more rigorous than at Edenville.
Educational reforms and initiatives
Later, a junior high school called Edenville Academy was established to further promote early education in Edenville, where Tom attended until the eighth grade. In the series, Sven attends high school in Boylestown, Pennsylvania, where Papa himself received his high school diploma.
In one chapter, the more refined ways of the East are depicted instead of the hard work and settlement of the Western world, such as Sven’s “Yar” ways, which are more simple and hardworking. This chapter highlights the differences in manners and thinking between the East and the West.
Historical context
Fitzgerald’s books deal with various social and life issues in the southwestern United States in the late 19th century, between 1896 and 1898. These issues include the following major themes:
- Diabetes: At the time, the disease was considered a fatal condition, as insulin had not yet been discovered.
- Banking system: Banking was different in the days before the Federal Reserve.
- Mormonism, Catholicism, and Protestantism: The differences between these religions and their effects are also mentioned.
- Transportation: The Interstate Highway System had not yet been established. People traveled by horse or foot, and bicycles were rare because most people in Edenville could not afford them. Trains were used for long journeys, such as to Salt Lake City or Pennsylvania.
- Sanitation and Sewage: Outhouses (known in Utah at the time as “backhouses”) were common. The wealthiest people usually had backhouses with ornate wood trim. When Papa ordered a flush toilet (called a “water closet”) from Sears Roebuck, the whole town was shocked, but later people came to understand its usefulness.
- Child Discipline: Most families “whipped” their children, and this was a common training method. However, some more progressive parents preferred silent treatment or other methods.
- Education: Most schools at the time had strict rules and punishments, and children were sometimes physically punished for violating school rules.
Anachronisms
The series also includes some anachronisms, such as Cracker Jack prizes not being introduced until 1912, and Erector sets being sold in 1913. There is also an anachronism about telecommunications. Telephones were mostly used for business during this era, but the stories are set in places where people are seen calling each other, which is unrealistic for the era.
The books cover all the issues that were connected to the social, cultural, and scientific issues of the time, and help to understand their impact.
Summary
Fitzgerald’s books reflect the social, cultural, and scientific issues of the southwestern United States in the late 19th century. Topics such as diabetes, the banking system, religious differences, transportation, sanitation, and child rearing are discussed in these books. The social conditions of the period and their effects are well described, especially the simple and primitive nature of life at that time is highlighted.
There are also some anachronisms in the books, such as some things that were not introduced at that time, but are mentioned. By analyzing these issues in depth, we understand the realities of life at that time and the difficulties of that era, which helps us better understand various aspects of life in our time.*-
