The Vagabond King is a coming of age story in which sixteen
year old Chris discovers that the man he was raised to believe was his father
is actually not. Then, when his mother dies of cancer, his world collapses
around him and he falls into an abyss of meaninglessness and teen depression not
knowing who he truly is and not even sure of his real name.
But, Chris knows the truth is out there, it must be. And, questioning
his many possible names and their meanings he is haunted by a mysterious
apparition that forces him to embark upon a quest to find himself.
After running away from home, he seeks refuge in the home of
Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, who he hopes will "make
a man of him". But, when he reaches the point of spiritual despair, she offers
words of encouragement and tells him stories from ancient mythology to guide
him through his dark night of the soul.
However, Magda lives with her father, a cigarette smoking,
beer swilling immigrant who Chris hates because he spends his last days limping
around the house in his boxer shorts, listening to old American Blues music and
making Chris fetch him fresh cans of beer. But, when the old man tells tales of
terror under the Communist regime, his daring escape and the mysterious
medallion he wears, The Vagabond King weaves together ancient constellation
myths, Blues chords and the histories of Africa, The New World and Communist
Hungary into a modern myth from which Chris learns that, like the old man's
skipping records, history repeats itself and the roles we play have been played
many times before.
"...if the world and literature survive into the next
age, The Vagabond King will probably be a classic." (TM Romero,
Goodreads.com)
year old Chris discovers that the man he was raised to believe was his father
is actually not. Then, when his mother dies of cancer, his world collapses
around him and he falls into an abyss of meaninglessness and teen depression not
knowing who he truly is and not even sure of his real name.
But, Chris knows the truth is out there, it must be. And, questioning
his many possible names and their meanings he is haunted by a mysterious
apparition that forces him to embark upon a quest to find himself.
After running away from home, he seeks refuge in the home of
Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, who he hopes will "make
a man of him". But, when he reaches the point of spiritual despair, she offers
words of encouragement and tells him stories from ancient mythology to guide
him through his dark night of the soul.
However, Magda lives with her father, a cigarette smoking,
beer swilling immigrant who Chris hates because he spends his last days limping
around the house in his boxer shorts, listening to old American Blues music and
making Chris fetch him fresh cans of beer. But, when the old man tells tales of
terror under the Communist regime, his daring escape and the mysterious
medallion he wears, The Vagabond King weaves together ancient constellation
myths, Blues chords and the histories of Africa, The New World and Communist
Hungary into a modern myth from which Chris learns that, like the old man's
skipping records, history repeats itself and the roles we play have been played
many times before.
"...if the world and literature survive into the next
age, The Vagabond King will probably be a classic." (TM Romero,
Goodreads.com)
