HOMES: A NOVEL

At forty-two, Dr. George Harrington leaves Paris to work in Asia, bringing his twelve-year-old son, Hugo, with him. He commits to an advisor role on communicable diseases while embodying the unwavering responsibilities of a single father. The father-son bond grows as they adapt to new surroundings, and his son enrolls in a reputable international school after George’s transfer to a regional post in Asia. However, his increasingly intense duty trips often leave his son at home without a parent, and later, Hugo’s studies in faraway England bring them further heartbreak.
When George takes a job in Europe, the new office’s atmosphere and the loss of his English parents lead him to retire in England and Italy, while Hugo establishes his career in Germany. George then discovers his wanderlust, embracing frequent moves and experiencing wonders, including encounters with significance. Over twenty-two years, he comes to realize that his homes, or the resemblance of them, aren’t merely physical places but rather about the affections they create.
Homes portrays the journey of a man striving to be a loving parent amidst ever-changing environments and constantly adjusting his way of life to find happiness. It explores expats’ lives through a tale of love and discovery in various exotic locations, despite the world’s challenges.