THE PRELUDE
A novel that explores the origins of creativity and the limits of identity.
The Prelude tells the story of a young design graduate who sets out on a European odyssey, convinced that seeing the great masterpieces in person will secure his destiny. The journey begins in 1996 London, where he seeks out the legendary designer he worships before setting foot on the continent. From there, the narrative follows him across Europe as ideals collide with harsh realities. Behind the lens of his camera, he captures cathedrals, galleries, and city streets, only to confront anti-Semitism, the scars of past abuse, and the limits of an identity borrowed from others. His adventure builds toward a two-week internship back at the London studio of an iconic graphic designer. Though his hero remains unmoved, he emerges with a new vision of art and a deeper understanding of the nature of wounds that shape us.
A bildungsroman in the tradition of Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, The Prelude merges the personal journey of W.G. Sebald’s The Emigrants with the creative awareness of Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being.
The Prelude is a language-driven narrative that explores the enduring search for self-discovery and artistic passion, and how moments of discovery early in life can nurture the self-awareness needed to endure experiences we all struggle to understand. Each chapter is interwoven through a nonlinear use of time, blending observations about art and design with personal reflection to create an immersive reading experience. Encounters with famous works of art are never explicitly named; instead, each piece is described in the context of an evolving internal narrative of discovery.
Our protagonist advances in his career yet remains unfulfilled. He gains experience in love but remains alone. He connects with his people but is still an outsider—all while trying to make a home in an unforgiving city. The cyclical nature of life brings him back to cities years later, questioning what, if anything, has truly changed.