The story in one page
Tom is a young, soot-covered chimney sweep who escapes a life of abuse by tumbling into a river. Upon drowning, he undergoes a biological promotion, becoming a water-baby. In this new form, he navigates a surreal aquatic ecosystem where fairies monitor his hygiene and moral development. He eventually embarks on a quest to locate his former master, Grimes, at the Other-end-of-Nowhere. Along the journey, Tom encounters various sea creatures and mythological figures, learning that spiritual cleanliness and hard work are the keys to avoiding the sorry fate of becoming a dirty, mud-dwelling eft.
Who's who
- Tom
A chimney sweep who evolves into an aquatic creature.
- Grimes
A cruel chimney sweep master located at the world's end.
- Ellie
A young girl who glimpses Tom before a tragic fall.
- Mother Carey
A maternal figure who governs the fate of ocean creatures.
What it's really about
- Hygiene
- Cleanliness is treated as a moral imperative.
- Evolution
- Species transformation is possible through hard work.
Why it's memorable
- A chimney sweep biting a professor’s finger in a panic.
- A lady singing to her baby while sailing over the sea.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The narrator reminds readers that the tale is mere pretence, yet insists that if you scrub yourself clean and work hard, you will be right regardless of the story's veracity.
For your book club
- Why the author insists you must never believe a word of it.
- How the text treats biology as a moral lecture.