s Louis Colfax sane? I think that is the premise of this novel. Louis comes from an eccentric family, invents fantastical devices, studies the ocean and anything else that takes his fancy. This reminded me a great deal of Vein of Riches. Louis seems to have a fragile grasp of reality at best. He alternately fascinates and antagonizes people. BUT WAIT. The sudden kidnapping of Charlotte's son, whom he believes is his own, changes him completely and reconciles him to her and their past. The last 20 pages simply make no sense. Somehow Louis will take little Mark to baseball games and it will all be fine. Vein of Riches was more tragic but more real.

This, to my mind, is John Knowles' best novel; I certainly enjoyed it more than "A Separate Peace". This moving novel centers around a young confused and uncertain man of large talents and vague focus, who finally stirs himself to a precise plan for his life when he becomes convinced that his ex-girlfriend is the mother of his child. A funny and poignant work, though dated in the period it was written in, this was the book that finally convinced me that there is some virtue to being uncertain in life, and that those who are dead certain of everything in life are missing out on something. ( )