Theophilus North: A Novel

I've lived long enough to be able to judge novels by how many times I'm willing to re-read them. I've read Theophilus North about 20 times... If it's not my favorite novel of all time, then it's definitely within the top five. The main character really appeals to me, a supremely independent, intelligent, well educated soul, who repeatedly, almost against his will, gets entangled in the lives of those with whom he comes in contact while on a summer vacation in Newport - always to the benefit of those fortunate enough to to be a target for his 'meddling'. I know this is a fable, not a true story... but, oh, how I wish there were people like this in the world...

this author, which has written books so beatiful, has given the world this one which is also beatiful, but pointless, i guess that the main character is himself. the book does not have a plot or at least is not going anywhere, but it is not boring, and it is a good read. i just loved it, even though when i finished i had the sensation of not being told anything new. the book has gone into oblivion and will propably stay there, the one i read i took it from the library and i was the only one who got it from the shelf in more than a decade, i guess it is there in the shelf at the library, waiting for another ten years until some reader will take it down, and write another pointless review about it....LUIS MENDEZ [email protected]

This novel of a young man just leaving a teaching position and heading "who knows where" is really a Walter Mitty story: this is how I would be if I were as wonderful as I want to be. Purported to be autobiographical, the hero is detective, psychologist and always friend to his acquaintances of all social classes. He cleverly and compassionately resolves all their problems and his own. Not containing the depth of other novels such as Bridge at San Luis Rey, this book is for pleasure.

This is a great gift for a recent graduate with creative aspirations; a good "pondering where to steer your life" book. Wilder describes multiple "cities" living under each others' noses in the same geographic venue. It's a look at people with widely varied resources. Those with economic or social resources do not necessarily come out fulfilled. Those without impressive resources sometimes turn out to be wonderfully resourceful.

I visited Newport this summer and heard about the book while there. I lucked up on a copy at a second hand store last week.