Simon the Jester by William John Locke

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Simon the Jester by William John Locke

(2 User reviews) 512

By Richard Stewart Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Early Readers

Authors: Locke, William John, 1863-1930 Published By : Locke, William John, 1863-1930

Book Language: English

Okay, I need to tell you about this book that completely surprised me. 'Simon the Jester' by William J. Locke isn't about a literal circus clown. It's about Simon de Gex, a wealthy, charming, and totally bored man in Edwardian London. He's done everything, bought everything, and feels nothing. Life has lost all its flavor. So, he makes a wild decision: he's going to pretend to be dying of a heart condition. He figures watching everyone's reactions—the pity, the drama, the sudden sincerity—will be the most entertaining show on earth. It starts as his own private joke, a way to feel something again. But here's the catch: what happens when the lie starts to change the liar? When real feelings, real connections, start to grow in the middle of this performance? It's a brilliant, witty, and surprisingly moving story about a man who fakes his way toward finding what's actually real. If you like character-driven stories with a sharp sense of humor and a big heart, you have to meet Simon.

File: Simon the Jester by William John Locke

William J. Locke's Simon the Jester is a charming and clever novel that feels both of its time (the early 1900s) and timeless in its questions.

The Story

Simon de Gex is young, rich, handsome, and utterly bored. He's climbed every social ladder and tasted every pleasure London has to offer, and it's all turned to ash. To spark some feeling into his life, he hatches an outrageous plan: he'll tell everyone he's dying from a serious heart condition. He moves to a quiet seaside town, adopts the role of the tragic, doomed gentleman, and settles in to watch the show. He expects hypocrisy, morbid curiosity, and maybe some amusing displays of false sympathy.

But his joke backfires in the best way. Instead of shallow reactions, he finds genuine kindness, especially from his no-nonsense landlady, Lola, and her circle of friends. As Simon plays the part of a man with no future, he's forced to confront what he actually wants from life. The lie he created for entertainment becomes the catalyst for his first real, honest connections. The big question becomes: can he untangle himself from his own web, and if he does, will the real relationships he's built survive the truth?

Why You Should Read It

I fell for Simon, even when he was being insufferable. Locke has a gift for writing witty, self-aware characters who are deeply flawed but you can't help rooting for them. The book is genuinely funny—Simon's internal commentary on the absurdity of high society is sharp—but it never makes fun of real emotion. The heart of the story is Simon's slow, reluctant awakening. You watch this man who thought he was staging a farce accidentally walk into his own life.

It's also a wonderful look at how we perform roles every day. Simon just takes it to an extreme. His journey from cynical spectator to an engaged participant in his own story is what makes the book so satisfying. And Lola is a fantastic character, a breath of fresh air who sees through nonsense without being cruel.

Final Verdict

Simon the Jester is perfect for anyone who loves a character study with humor and heart. If you enjoy classic authors like P.G. Wodehouse but wish there was a bit more emotional depth alongside the laughs, Locke is your guy. It's for readers who like stories about second chances, personal reinvention, and the idea that it's never too late to stop performing and start living. A truly delightful and thoughtful read.