 | |
| Author | Frederick Buechner |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | 1990 |
| Preceded by | Brendan |
| Followed by | The Son of Laughter |
The Wizard's Tide: a story is a novella by the American author and theologian, Frederick Buechner. It was first published in 1990 by Harper and Row, before being re-issued in 2005 under the altered title, The Christmas Tide.
The Wizard's Tide narrates a year in the life of an eleven-year-old boy, Teddy Schroeder, and his family's attempt to survive the Great Depression. Teddy's father, a spendthrift who has been beset by failure in business, loses his job at the outset of the story, auguring the end of the lifestyle to which the family have been accustomed.
As their lives continue to unravel, the Schroeders move aimlessly between their home in New Jersey and their summerhouse in Long Island. As the news of the abdication crisis becomes a topic of international conversation [1] and the children play newly invented board game, Monopoly, [2] Mr. Schroeder becomes increasingly dependent upon alcohol, which leads to a gradual breakdown in his marriage. Both Teddy and his younger sister, Bean, overhear late-night arguments, with their mother on one occasion asking her son to hide the car keys in bed with him, only to have Mr. Schroeder enter the room, drunk, and beg for their return.
Having had an investment in a glass company fail, which he has funded both through borrowing and through the illicit sale of Mrs. Schroeder's stocks, Mr. Schroeder takes his own life in the New York City Subway, [3] leaving his gold watch under Teddy's pillow. [4] The grieving family leave New Jersey, and return to live with Teddy's maternal grandmother, Dan, in Pittsburgh, where they prepare to celebrate Christmas together without their father, and in the midst of growing financial uncertainty.
In his literary critical study, Reading Buechner, Jeffrey Munroe argues that '[b]ecause The Wizard's Tide is a fictionalised version of events during Buechner's childhood, a strong argument can be made that is should be classified as a memoir instead of a novel.' [5] Munroe points out that the characters in the story are simple replacements of the author and his relatives: 'Teddy' is Frederick; 'Bean' is his younger brother, Jamie; his mother and father are 'Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder'; 'Grandma Schroeder' is Grandma Buechner; and 'Dan' is his maternal grandmother, Naya. [6]
Buechner scholar Dale Brown suggests that the label 'novel' is 'a problematic classification' since the work is 'directly autobiographical', and argues that it should be 'located' [7] with his other memoirs, listingThe Wizard's Tide alongside The Sacred Journey (1982) (elsewhere Brown calls it 'the first chapter of The Sacred Journey revisited from a new angle' and with 'withheld parts [...] included'), [8] Now and Then (1983), Telling Secrets (1991), The Longing for Home (1996), and The Eyes of the Heart (1999). [9] Noting that the author began composing The Wizard's Tide in the months following his mother's death in 1988, Brown writes that it 'should be read as an important moment in Buechner's self-analysis'. [10]
Brown also notes within the work the influence of Mark Twain, [11] while the Kirkus reviewer suggests that the narrative 'faintly echo[es]' the style of J. D. Salinger. [12]
As a heavily autobiographical work, The Wizard's Tide contains many of the themes that are common to Buechner's publications both fiction and non-fiction. Dale Brown notes that the novella typifies the author's fascination with 'shame, guilt, memory, and forgiveness'. [13] The Wizard's Tide is also concerned with fatherlessness, single motherhood, family dysfunction, and suicide, a theme to which Buechner returned 'on many occasions'. [14]
Buechner's discussion of these subjects in a work intended for young adults caused it to be initially rejected by 'two' [15] publishing companies, who felt that such 'adult themes' [16] were unsuitable for the target audience.
Brendan is the eleventh novel by the American author and theologian, Frederick Buechner. It was first published in 1987 by Atheneum, New York, and it won the Christianity and Literature Book Award for Belles-Lettres in the same year.
The Son of Laughter is the twelfth novel by the American author and theologian, Frederick Buechner. The novel was first published in 1993 by Harper, San Francisco. In the same year it was named ‘Book of the Year’ by the Conference on Christianity and Literature.
The Storm is the fourteenth novel by the American author and theologian, Frederick Buechner. The novel was first published in 1998 by Harper, San Francisco.
The Return of Ansel Gibbs is the third novel by the American author and theologian Frederick Buechner. It was first published in 1958 by Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
The Final Beast is the fourth novel by the American author and theologian, Frederick Buechner. It was first published in 1965 by Atheneum, New York.
The Entrance to Porlock is the fifth novel by the American author and theologian, Frederick Buechner. It was first published in 1970 by Atheneum, New York.
The Sacred Journey: A Memoir of Early Days is an autobiography by author Frederick Buechner, the first of a four part series. Published in 1982, the work describes the author's life from his childhood up until his conversion to Christianity in 1953, at the age of twenty-seven.
Telling Secrets: a memoir (1991), is the third of four partial autobiographies written by Frederick Buechner. Published in 1991, the work considers in depth several scenes and events from the author's life, from his father’s suicide through to his time spent as a visiting professor at Wheaton College.
The Alphabet of Grace is a collection of addresses on Christianity and faith by Frederick Buechner. It was first conceived as a trilogy of sermons, delivered at the Harvard Memorial Church in the winter of 1969. It was subsequently published by Seabury Press, NY, in 1970.
The Magnificent Defeat is a collection of meditations on Christianity and faith by Frederick Buechner. It was first conceived as a series of sermons, delivered at the Phillips Exeter Academy throughout 1959. It was subsequently published by Seabury Press, NY, in 1966. The Magnificent Defeat is Buechner’s first non-fiction publication.
The Hungering Dark is a collection of meditations on Christianity and faith by Frederick Buechner. Preceded by The Magnificent Defeat, it is the second in a series of sermon anthologies preached in 1959 during the author's time at the Phillips Exeter Academy. The Hungering Dark is Buechner's second non-fiction publication, and it was published by Seabury Press, NY, in 1968.
Wishful Thinking: a theological ABC, reissued in 1993 as Wishful Thinking: a seeker’s ABC, is a collection of meditations on faith, Christianity, and theology by Frederick Buechner. It is the first of Buechner’s lexical trilogy, which includes Peculiar Treasures (1979) and Whistling in the Dark (1988). Published in 1973 by Harper and Row, Wishful Thinking is Buechner’s fourth non-fiction work.
The Faces of Jesus: a life story is a collection of meditations by Frederick Buechner on the life and person of Jesus Christ. The work gathers and discusses a selection of artistic portrayals of Jesus, including a variety of forms, from tapestry to sculpture. Published in 1974 by Simon and Schuster, Faces of Jesus is Buechner’s fifth non-fiction work.
Telling the Truth: the Gospel as tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale, is a collection of essays by Frederick Buechner on the subject of homiletics. It was first composed for and delivered at the Yale Divinity School Lyman Beecher Lecture series in 1976. Telling the Truth was subsequently published in 1977 by HarperCollins. It is Buechner's sixth non-fiction work.
Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who's Who, is a collection of meditations on the stories of biblical figures, written by Frederick Buechner. It is the second of Buechner's lexical trilogy, which includes Wishful Thinking (1973) and Whistling in the Dark (1988). Published in 1979 by Harper and Row, Peculiar Treasures is Buechner's seventh non-fiction work.
Whistling in the Dark: a doubter's dictionary, first issued as Whistling in the Dark: an ABC theologized, is a collection of meditations on faith, Christianity, and theology by Frederick Buechner. It is the third and final instalment of Buechner's lexical trilogy, which includes Wishful Thinking (1973) and Peculiar Treasures (1979). Published in 1988 by Harper and Row, Whistling in the Dark is Buechner's ninth non-fiction work.
The Clown in the Belfry is an anthology of sermons, lectures, and articles, authored by Frederick Buechner. Published in 1992 by Harper and Row, The Clown in the Belfry is Buechner's tenth non-fiction work.
The Longing for Home: recollections and reflections is an anthology of sermons, poetry, devotional pieces, essays, and autobiographical reflections authored by Frederick Buechner. Published in 1996 by HarperCollins, The Longing for Home is Buechner's twelfth non-fiction work.
Speak What We Feel : reflections on faith and literature is a collection of literary critical and theological essays authored by Frederick Buechner. Published in 2001 by HarperCollins, Speak What We Feel is Buechner's thirteenth non-fiction work.
Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons is a collection of sermons and lectures authored by Frederick Buechner. Published in 2006 by HarperCollins, Secrets in the Dark is Buechner's fifteenth non-fiction work.