Eric, or Little by Little

by F. W. (Frederic William) Farrar

"Eric, or Little by Little" by F. W. Farrar is a novel published in 1858. It follows Eric Williams, a boy sent from British India to attend boarding school in England, where he confronts the harsh realities of public school life. Despite his noble character, Eric gradually succumbs to various moral failings—bullying, unjust punishments, drinking, smoking, and cheating. Written with explicit moral purpose, the story traces his descent into vice and ultimately toward a tragic conclusion, exemplifying Victorian religious didacticism about the importance of seeking spiritual guidance and maintaining inner purity.