Theophilus North A Novel
Theophilus North, a novel by Thornton Wilder, is presented in this 2003 edition from HarperCollins, featuring 432 pages in English. This work, marking the thirtieth anniversary of its original publication, includes Wilder’s unpublished notes and additional documentary material, all compiled in a new Afterword by Tappan Wilder. The story follows Theophilus North, who embarks on a journey in the summer of 1926, only to find himself stranded in Newport, Rhode Island, where he takes various jobs in the opulent mansions along Ocean Drive.
Readers will discover a narrative that blends autobiographical elements with the imagined adventures of Wilder’s twin brother. As Theophilus navigates the complexities of a society defined by leisure, he assumes multiple roles, including tutor and confidant, becoming deeply involved in the lives of those around him. This novel offers a reflective commentary on youth and education, enriched by Wilder’s characteristic wit and insights into life, love, and work. Theophilus North stands as a significant contribution to literary fiction and classics, inviting readers to explore the intricacies of human relationships within a vibrant social backdrop.
Official synopsis Publisher
Marking the thirtieth anniversary of Theophilus North, this beautiful new edition features Wilder’s unpublished notes for the novel and other illuminating documentary material, all of which is included in a new Afterword by Tappan Wilder.
The last of Wilder’s works published during his lifetime, this novel is part autobiographical and part the imagined adventure of his twin brother who died at birth. Setting out to see the world in the summer of 1926, Theophilus North gets as far as Newport, Rhode Island, before his car breaks down. To support himself, Theophilus takes jobs in the elegant mansions along Ocean Drive, just as Wilder himself did in the same decade. Soon the young man finds himself playing the roles of tutor, spy, confidant, lover, friend, and enemy as he becomes entangled in the intrigues of both upstairs and downstairs in a glittering society dominated by leisure.
Narrated by the elderly North from a distance of fifty years, Theophilus North is a fascinating commentary on youth and education from the vantage point of age, and deftly displays Wilder’s trademark wit juxtaposed with his lively and timeless ruminations on what really matters about life, love, and work at the end of the day — even after a visit to Newport.
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