Growing up in the aftermath of WW II in London, Eddie learns only one thing from his alcoholic father, how to box. Unfortunately, this legacy does not come with any lessons on self-control, so Eddie’s ability to defend himself frequently lands him in trouble with the authorities, be they the local priest, employers or corrupt constables.
Fortunately for Eddie, he has two gifts that compensate for his father’s alternating pattern of abuse and neglect. The first is an artistic gift that allows Eddie at different times in his life to be a sketch artist, painter, singer, musician, and sculptor. The second gift in Eddie’s life is an unlikely mentor, a Native American, named Running Horse, stationed outside of London during the War. Running Horse teaches Eddie that there is an immanent, creative Spirit that fills the universe and can touch receptive and artistic souls like his.
Ostensibly, Prodigal Child is the story of Eddie Conner’s long road to fame. More importantly, though, it is about his search for accountability and artistic expression that is frustrated by his tendency to solve his problems with his fists. His struggle to overcome this takes him from brawler to successful artist, but along the way he misses a number of opportunities. As a boy he ruins an opportunity to join St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir when he punches Nigel, an arrogant rich kid who taunts Eddie for his lower class status. The choir members fall like dominos and Eddie’s first performance becomes memorable, both for his beautiful voice and this stunning disruption. This becomes a pattern in Eddie’s young life. As a young man, a street fight costs Eddie his chance to be at the forefront of the British Invasion and his first appearance on television is an enormous success that ends in his arrest.
With each episode, the reader empathizes with Eddie because his young life is filled with injustices that are reminiscent of Dickens, but ultimately it is his temper that is the real problem. The reader sees this and agrees with Eddie’s beleaguered mother: "That’s your problem, Eddie, you don’t think. You have to learn to control your temper."
However, Eddie’s demons and his gifts create a tension that leads to maturity. Even as his temper costs him his early opportunities for fame, his talent saves him when he is at his lowest points. In jail his paintings and his music raise him above the lot of the common inmate and lead to work as a welder after his release. His work as an industrial welder becomes a career in artistic welding. This in turn takes him to California where he rediscovers his interest in his guitar. This leads in turn to a second chance at a career in music in the 1990’s. As Eddie fumbles toward self-control and accountability, he finds himself more and more in tune with the Creative Spirit of the universe. His life, his art, and his relationships become more fulfilling as he learns not to squander second chances. However, this novel ends on a note of uncertainty because the past is always present and some lessons we never stop learning.
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.
Grantley Gibbons is an English teacher and freelance writer from Charleston, South Carolina.