The Poet of Tolstoy Park is an exquisitely written historical fiction novel penned by Sonny Brewer, which delves into the life of Henry James Stuart. It takes us on a beautiful spiritual odyssey with a widowed professor in Nampa, Idaho, in the early 20th century. Henry has been diagnosed with a non-contagious form of tuberculosis that is expected to claim his life within a year. Leaving the doctor's office, devastated by the news, he leaves his boots on the porch and walks home barefoot, in touch with the earth and grappling with the reality of his situation.
Books have always been an integral part of his life. Although he knows he will miss his magnificent library, he realizes it's time to move forward. So, he distributes all his possessions among his sons, Harvey and Thomas, and his best friend Will. As he does so, he feels a growing sense of relief, yet the distribution of his books still feels like a loss.
After researching various places to spend the remainder of his life, Henry chooses Fairhope, Alabama, mainly because of its beautiful location and its connection to Leo Tolstoy, one of his favorite authors. He finds a perfect ten-acre plot above Mobile Bay and departs from Nampa with two satchels, one containing his most precious books, as he boards a train for Mobile. His first night there, he endures a hurricane in a cistern, and during that terrifying night, he realizes he must build a structure in the pattern of a circle to house him. And thus, The Poet of Tolstoy Park is born.
This book is truly a gem that I will return to time and again. Oh, and now Fairhope, Alabama, has firmly made its way onto my bucket list!
I listened to this particular work while driving in my car. The character of Henry Stuart initially intrigued me, but as the story progressed, he became rather repugnant. For a significant portion of the time, I perceived him as pretentious, irritating, and overly self-absorbed. It was only in the later parts of the book that he underwent a change for the better, after being miraculously healed of his tuberculosis. However, by that point, my heart had already made up its mind and was not inclined to rehabilitate him. The narration by Rick Bragg was slow and had a soporific effect. Despite all of this, I find myself still curious about the real Henry James Stuart. I am probably going to Google his name and try to find out more about the actual person behind the fictional character. I am eager to discover what aspects of his life might have inspired the creation of this complex and somewhat unlikable character.