I recently finished the book “Parnassus on Wheels” by Christopher Morley and now I am recommending it to everybody.  The book was first published in 1917, but I had never heard of it.  I was reading “The Bookshop:  A History of the American Bookstore” by Evan Friss and it mentioned “Parnassus on Wheels.”  Being intrigued by the premise, I borrowed it from the online Columbus Metropolitan Library.

I loved this little book.  It is only 100 pages and I read it in a couple of hours.  When I finished, I wished I could continue reading.  This is the mark of a good book – when you don’t want it to be over.  There is a book 2, but the premise was different enough that it didn’t sound like something I wanted to try.

But the first book, “Parnassus on Wheels” carried me away.  Roger Mifflin, the “hero” of the book, is the owner of a bookstore on wheels.  He has wandered around the Midwest selling his books and built up both a reputation and a following.  But he wants to write a book of his own, so he decides to sell.  He pulls his wagon next to a farmhouse where the farmer is himself a famous author.  But the author is out on a tour, and Roger talks instead to the sister of the author,

Helen is the “heroine.”  She is a spinster and getting a little tired of her brother gallivanting all over the country while she is stuck on the farm.  On the spur of the moment, she decides to buy Parnassus and take off for some adventures of her own.  She writes her brother a note, gives Roger the money for the business, and they take off down the road together.  She is giving Roger a lift to the train station while he is teaching her how to run the business.

Helen is soon enchanted by Roger and they end up spending more time together than intended.  There are misadventures and opportunities, which I don’t want to detail because I don’t want to spoil the book for you.

This is a sweet, old-fashioned story, told in a simple, eminently readable style.  There is plenty of action as well as long paragraphs on the beauty and utility of books.  My favorite line from the book is “When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life.”  I’ve always found this true.  My favorite books are ones that carry me away to another world.

“Parnassus on Wheels” carried me away to a time long ago.  When people moved slower and took time to talk face to face.  When a wagon full of books pulling into a town was a big deal and could draw a crowd.  I can see myself living that kind of life.

If you love books and are open to an adventurous love story, “Parnassus on Wheels” is a book that will appeal to you.