Wesblock, the autobiography of an automaton

A first-person life account narrated by a man who characterizes himself as an automaton, recalling a modest upbringing in a Quebec city, early family life, schooling, work, and the slow development of self-awareness. He examines personal failures and social surroundings with wry introspection, reflecting on habit, duty, and the narrowness that threatened to make him unfit, offering moral self-scrutiny and observations on religion, community, and domestic relations. The tone combines plain storytelling, humor, and occasional sermonizing as he evaluates whether his life was worthwhile and seeks to understand how small circumstances shaped his character.