Arthur Conan Doyle 
Rodney Stone 

First published in 1896 ’Rodney Stone’ is the coming-of-age story of two young friends by the famous Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sailor’s son Rodney Stone is keen to follow in his absent father’s footsteps and embark on a life at sea, while his friend Boy Jim, the son of a blacksmith, wants nothing more than to become a successful bare-knuckle boxer. Ostensibly a story about growing up, in true Conan Doyle style there is also plenty of intriguing drama and mystery along the way. –