The story is narrated by Phineas, a friend of the central character. John Halifax is an orphan, determined to make his way in the world through honest hard work. He is taken in by a tanner, Abel Fletcher, who is a Quaker, and thus meets Phineas, who is Abel's son. The book follows John's adventures as he struggles to achieve success in life and it is a presentation of the ideals of English middle-class life.