The Poet of Tolstoy Park: A Novel

Summary

Sonny Brewer based his acclaimed debut novel on the true life of poet Henry Stuart. When the 67-year-old former professor finds out that the is dying of tuberculosis, he vows to “learn in solitude how to save myself.”

Leaving his town, his sons, and his boots behind, Henry heads for Fairhope, Alabama, a town known for its utopian ideals. There, with only the writings of his beloved Tolstoy to keep him company, Henry builds himself a small hut for shelter, determined to live the rest of his days in isolation. Slowly, however, people begin visiting the barefoot poet for advice. When his last few months become his last few years, Henry’s attempt to understand death becomes a lesson on life.