by John Updike
First published 1978
George Caldwell teaches in a small Pennsylvania town in the late 1940s. A blizzard traps him alone with his teenage son for three days. During this time, Caldwell watches his son mature and develop while he feels himself losing his grip on life. He struggles to find purpose and meaning in his existence as a teacher and father. The story weaves together Caldwell's modern predicament with ancient Greek mythology. Updike connects Caldwell to Chiron, the wise centaur known for his nobility and teaching. The mythological layer also links the characters to Prometheus, the titan who stole fire for humanity. These parallel stories illuminate each other as father and son navigate their relationship during the storm. The novel explores how Caldwell grapples with middle age, responsibility, and his sense of worth while observing his son's growth into adulthood.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, family-drama, academic
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Pennsylvania
Period: 1940s
272 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd