In and Out

"In and Out" by Edgar Franklin is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Anthony Fry, a well-off businessman with a penchant for theories about human nature and opportunity, and his friend Johnson Boller, who is more pragmatic and cynical. The narrative begins with Fry observing a boxing match while contemplating the nature of missed opportunities, which sets the stage for an unusual experiment into the lives of everyday people and their recognition of opportunity. At the start of the book, Fry and Boller are at a boxing match discussing the protagonist's theory that individuals often fail to recognize opportunities when they arise. As they talk, a young man named David Prentiss unexpectedly takes a seat next to them and catches Fry's interest. Fry decides he wants to offer David a chance at a new life filled with opportunities, leading to a whirlwind of events that unfold when David appears to resist Fry's proposition and tries to leave. The opening portion intricately sets up the contrasting views of Fry and Boller toward humanity and their roles, foreshadowing the complexities that will come to play in David's life and Anthony's radical views on opportunity.