First published 1967
Leonidas Matsoukas watches his young son Stavros struggle with nephritis, a kidney disease that threatens the boy's life. The Greek immigrant father refuses to accept the doctors' grim prognosis. He believes he can cure his son through sheer force of will and desperate action. Matsoukas abandons his job and neglects his family responsibilities. He pursues wild schemes to raise money for treatments. His wife Anthoula grows increasingly frustrated with his reckless behavior. The Chicago Greek neighborhood becomes the backdrop for his frantic quest. Matsoukas gambles, borrows money, and chases impossible dreams. His obsession with saving Stavros consumes everything around him. The story explores how far a father will go when faced with losing his child.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: desperate-father, family-tragedy, parental-love
Setting: Chicago, Greece
Period: 20th-century
Hardcover · david mckay company
Content warnings: terminal-illness