THE PRELUDE
A novel that explores the origins of creativity and the limits of identity.
“The Prelude” follows a recent design graduate on a European tour to witness the masterpieces he believes seeing in person will guarantee life success. Beginning in 1996 London, the narrative follows his journey across the continent where he confronts his ideals versus reality and grapples with the disparity between them. Through his camera lens he explores cathedrals, galleries, and city streets. He faces anti-Semitism, struggles with the lasting effects of abuse, and realizes the limitations of an identity influenced by other designers. The adventure concludes with a two-week internship back at the London studio of an iconic graphic designer. He fails to impress his hero but gains insight into the essence of art and the nature of wounds.
A bildungsroman in the tradition of Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities,” “The Prelude” merges the personal journey of Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Everything Is Illuminated” 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 quest for self-discovery, artistic passion, and how moments of discovery early in life can help develop the self-awareness to carry you through events we all struggle to make sense of. Each chapter is woven together through a nonlinear use of time, merging observations about art and design with personal reflections creating an immersive reading experience. His encounters with famous works of art are never named, instead each work is described in context to his evolving internal narrative of discovery. Our protagonist advances in his career but remains unfulfilled. Gains experience in love but remains alone. Connects with his people but is still an outsider. All while he tries to make a home in an unforgiving city. The cyclical nature of life finds him returning to cities years later, questioning what has changed.