The Ne'er-Do-Well is a fictional novel written by Rex Beach. The narrative begins with Kirk Anthony often being asked by his father to sit down to perform some actual job. But Anthony, despite nearly worshiping his strong, successful father, Anthony is enjoying his father's money despite doing something. He enjoys attending posh meals, driving the newest vehicles, and treating his pals to opulent banquets. Suddenly a man on the run from the cops steps in to help. At supper, this man persuades one of Anthony's drunken friends to "play a capital trick" on him--unbeknownst to the friend, the trick lands poor Anthony on a ship with the wanted man's identity and no money. The rich Anthony is drugged and put on a ship to Panama with no clothes or luggage. Then, he had no option but to work on the building of the Panama Canal to earn passage homes. From there all is up to Anthony himself! Can he do good? Can Anthony get an understanding of his responsibilities? How will he survive in this environment?
Rex Ellingwood Beach (September 1, 1877 - December 7, 1949) was an American novelist, playwright, and Olympic water polo player. He was born in Atwood, Michigan, but moved to Tampa, Florida, with his family where his father was growing fruit trees. Beach was educated at Rollins College, Florida (1891-1896), the Chicago College of Law (1896-97), and Kent College of Law, Chicago (1899-1900). In 1900 he was drawn to Alaska at the time of the Klondike Gold Rush. After five years of unsuccessful prospecting, he turned to writing. His second novel The Spoilers (1906) was based on a true story of corrupt government officials stealing gold mines from prospectors, which he witnessed while he was prospecting in Nome, Alaska. The Spoilers became one of the bestselling novels of 1906.
