I really enjoyed this semi-historical story of senior Henry Stuart who up-ends his life in Nampa, Idaho to relocate to Fair Hope, Alabama in 1925 for health reasons.

Brewer starts the book with Henry's doctor's prognosis and his choice of Southern destination. The retiree then divides up his earthly goods and says farewell to two adult sons and close friend, Pastor Will Webb. As a widower, Henry, once a professor, is now unencumbered and he begins going barefoot in anticipation of a new life in the footsteps of his hero, CountLeo Tolstoy.

The book then takes him South via train, then by steamer across Mobile Bay to the community of Fair Hope where he meets his new neighbor, Peter Stedman. Peter has purchased land and supplies for him in advance. Thinking he might have only a year to live, Henry vows to lead a simplified, productive life to the end, and following a major tropical storm, puts aside his books and writing in order to construct a circular cement "hut" he designs to live in. He pushes away his new friends- Peter and his wife, and the teacher Kate and her young daughter- in order to make his own cement brick structure by himself and meditate through physical labor. The amazing and practical feats of the solo construction project, in the end, drive the TB from his body and allow him a new lease on life.

In the final section, Henry comes out of himself and begins contributing to the community, aiding with post-storm repairs, delivering lectures on Tolstoy and Robert Frost, weaving rugs on his loom and greeting visitors to his Tolstoy Park Estate. Through it all, his final 20 years in fair Hope he revels in the beauty and nature of the woods and seashore, enjoys the companionship of his friends, and philosophizes about meeting death head-on.

The structure created by the real-life Henry stands today as a monument outside of Fair Hope. Author Brewer has brought to life the figure of the sage and man on this personal quest, fleshing out the thin historical evidence on Henry Stuart.

I quite enjoyed the book and the rich language used to tell the tale.

I cannot tell you if this is a great book or if I merely identified with the characters, the setting, the language and the conflicts. Since the library had only an audio version, the sound by Rick Bragg's perfect-fit reading voice didn't hurt a speck. It is set in the early 1900's, beginning in Idaho and soon moving to Fair Hope, Alabama. The intentional reputation of the town as as being progressive, philosophical, community-oriented, detached from the nearby cities, in a lovely unspoiled sub-tropical region, comprises a parallel and essential backdrop for the story. The main character, Henry, recons openly but not morosely with his lessening control over all things, especially his mortality--a topic of more interest to readers of a certain age than to others.

This story refers to an existing landmark in Fairhope, AL which I recently visited. The story is amazing as is the landmark.

Given a death sentence (TB, one year to live), Henry Stuart takes the freedom that imminent death gives, leaves his sons, and moves to Fairhope, Alabama, from Idaho, a better climate. He builds a circular, concrete house (still standing) which absorbs him, focuses on the later teachings of Tolstoy, and feels the common mortality which we all share.
p.244: "...learn to die in peace. That's what I think is important. My own lessons for that have come from how I treat other people, from what things I give value, but mostly from understanding that in every instance fear is of my own making."
Very engaging, written by an independent bookstore owner in Fairhope.

A harder read for me. Author describes everything in lots of detail. Forces you to slow down, very much like the character in the book. Ultimately, I loved it. I want to build my own hut now.

I have always been drawn to books about people who left it all behind, just walked away from their lives one day and started fresh, made new friends or none at all, went to another part of the country, or another country altogether. I think it takes a lot of courage to do that.

Henry Stuart did just that, after getting a terminal diagnosis of tuberculosis from his doctor in Idaho. One year to live, a warmer climate might help the end be a little easier. So at the age of 67, he chose Fairhope, Alabama, went there sight unseen, built a hut in the woods, and lived for another 20 years, happier than he had ever been before. His literary hero was Leo Tolstoy, who also left his home and family at the end of his life.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't want to build a hut in the woods. I need electricity, running water, all the creature comforts I have become used to, decent wine, coffee and food, and other people to talk to. My daydream runs along the lines of a month or two completely on my own in a new place, with lots of time to think and read, without the interruptions of daily life. It's possible I would get bored, but still it sounds attractive. I have been to Fairhope, Alabama, and that would be a charming place to spend some time, if I ever get around to "getting away". Then I could visit the actual hut that Henry Stuart built in the woods, and the bookstore that the author of this novel owns, and bask in the Gulf breezes that seemed to cure Henry of his tuberculosis. This book gives the reader a lot to consider about the meaning of life and death, and friendship and family. I enjoyed the journey.

What a fabulous, fabulous read; it’s a true five star read. This is a book to be savored. I purposely slowed my reading to enjoy the prose. I definitely will read more about Henry Stuart. So many themes to ponder…

An immensely slow read, written with the vernacular of the 19th century.

The poet himself was refreshing with his ideas about the world. It was simply a meditative story written in a meditative way that shows how physical, mindful work gave purpose to and healed a man who was supposed to be dying. My favorite part of the book was the last 1/8 when the timeline speed changed from day by day to suddenly twenty years have passed. It was a nice change.

Locally interesting and worthwhile.

Quotes I liked:
"All that God wanted from Abraham was his willingness to sacrifice his son, not the deed at all. . . . a rich man willing to part with his riches might as well remain rich." Interesting to think about.
"In anger, truly the harm is to oneself . . . . the body is first student of the soul, and if the soul is stirred in anger, the body learns to throw tantrums."

A beautifully told story of what is means to live well and die well. In the 1920s with a consumption diagnosis, Henry leaves his home and family in Idaho for a unknown property on the Alabama coast. What is one’s obligation to the community, one’s loved ones and one’s self when confronted with a terminal diagnosis?

Henry Stuart, like many of us, ponders relentlessly the questions of life, how to be the best person possible. He depends greatly on Tolstoy for guidance and often quotes Tolstoy or gives examples from his life. Both Henry and Tolstoy are driven by their insatiable questioning. Brewer writes very well and it is obvious he is heavily invested in Henry’s story as well as Tolstoy’s. Ultimately the story made me ask just how far will we go to maintain our position or to realize a dream?

I really wanted to like it, I just didn't. I made myself finish it because I like what the author was trying to achieve. Sweet characters, it was just boring.