"Who among us is not our own worst enemy? Which of us does not wish for a second chance? Which of us does not have an inner artist trying to break free? Prodigal Child is a satisfying and charming read because it deals convincingly with these very personal, yet universal, issues."    

The story opens as singer/songwriter Eddie Conner is being interviewed by a reporter from Rolling Stone magazine. Seemingly an overnight success with a hit CD; the reporter is curious because Eddie from the 1960s generation has found musical success late in life. Eddie in turn struggles with the interview trying not to reveal his somewhat colorful past.

Alone in his hotel room after the interview Eddie reflects on his life and the story goes back to his childhood during WWII. Forced to flee from the nightly bombing raids on his London home Eddie moves with his mother to the relative peace and tranquility of the Southern English countryside.

It is here in 1944 in the weeks leading up to the Normandy Invasion Eddie meets an unlikely mentor in the form of a young American soldier. A twenty year old Navajo Indian named Running Horse who tells Eddie that there is an immanent Spirit of Creativity in the Universe that can touch receptive souls like his. It is this curious seed planted within the young boy that enables him later in life to excel at any creative endeavor he partakes. 

At the end of WWII Eddie returns to the tough crime filled streets of London’s East End and the story moves into the 1950s when he becomes part of the first generation of post war teens. Creating their own fashions and music they took first jazz then rock-n-roll from America; half a world away and made it their own.

Eddie’s abusive father a heavy drinker and stereotypical broken war veteran teaches him to fight. Unfortunately he is never taught self control, and his tendency to solve his problems with his fists lands him in trouble time and time again. Eddie finds local success as a singer/songwriter, but just as he and his band is about to gain national recognition a fight and subsequent wounding of another gets Eddie arrested.

Clearly a case of self defense, but Eddie’s violent past record and damning testimony by corrupt police officers send him to prison. From his prison cell he sees the Beatles and The Rolling Stones skyrocket to success and has to deal with the harsh reality, but for the poor choices he had made he would have been part of the exploding music scene.

At this low point in his life Eddie’s creativity saves him as he takes up painting in prison and on his release he becomes an acclaimed artist and sculptor. By the mid 1970s his career takes him to California where he goes on to be a highly successful businessman.

Although Eddie has money and material things in his life he lacks a purpose and the satisfaction that comes with it. He eventually returns to his first love music and it is here he finds a spiritual awareness along with the success he missed in his youth.

 

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