Virgil Hunter: A Novel

By James M. Bellarosa

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1880284006
• ISBN13: 9781880284001
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: John Daniel & Co
• Length: 187 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A rare gem, in a class by itself -- well done!!

My greatest joy as a reviewer comes with discovering rare gems: memorable stories written by excellent writers as yet undiscovered by the world. Virgil Hunter is definitely one of those gems. Critics have labeled it "Twainian" in style and compared it to Huckleberry Finn, which is a compliment to Bellarosa's abilities as storyteller. In my opinion, Bellarosa is in a class by himself. His characters are beautifully crafted, his writing style exceptional. Virgil Hunter is a teenager who gets his education from the world around him. Raised on a farm by his widowed father, Virgil has humanized hogs, mules, and chickens into friends and fellow travelers. He's unworldly but intelligent, naieve but canny in ways most of us will never be. This is a lad of uncompromising honesty. His vision of the world is skewed but clearly perceived. When the local sheriff and his deputies visit Virgil's father and say the boy must go to school whether he learns anything or not, Virgil complies. He knows he can "mix with morons and men as easily as with melons and mules." Virgil's folksy vision of the world drives teachers and counselors mad. In an attempt to save his frazzled staff, the school principal suggests that Virgil take several months off from school to experience the outside world, away from the farm. Virgil easily sees the wisdom in that so embarks on a grand experiment that includes Christian sharing, social interactions, and peer group associations. He expands his horizons to include priests and preachers, hard-nosed nurses, peers who question his logic, and upper management personnel of the local plastics factory. The entire town is left floundering in the wake of Virgil's social interactions. Virgil Hunter is a touching, endearing story. Bellarosa uses humor, irony, and pathos to perfection. This undiscovered gem is highly recommended reading for youths and adults.