'During the daylight hours of several autumn Saturdays there had been severe outbreaks of cavalry in the Schofield neighbourhood. The sabres were of wood; the steeds were imaginary, and both were employed in a game.'

'Penrod and Sam' (1916) is the sequel to 'Penrod' (1914). Set before World War One, it focuses on Penrod Schofield and his best friend Sam Williams as they go on hilarious adventures.
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Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) was an American novelist and dramatist. Originally from Indianapolis, he attended both Purdue University and Princeton, as well as getting an honorary doctorate from Columbia. His family was well-off, though they lost some of their wealth in the Panic of 1873 (the Great Depression).
He won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for 'The Magnificent Ambersons' (1918) and 'Alice Adams' (1921), making him one of only three to win it more than once, putting him alongside William Faulkner and John Updike. Whilst he is less known today, he was considered to be America's greatest living author during the early 20th century.