From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won" ~ Walt Whitman
Home Port is the fourth in a series of novels from Olive Higgins Prouty about the affluent Vale Family of Boston. Most people were introduced to Charlotte Vale in Now, Voyager, the third in the series. Spinster aunt Charlotte emerged from under her mother's thumb to become a beautiful and prominent figure with the help of family friend Dr. Jaquith. It was Lisa Vale who introduced him to the family for Charlotte's sake. Now, Voyager was turned into one of my favourite movies starring Bette Davis and Claude Rains, and is a favourite novel.
Prouty has written three other novels of the family; the first being White Fawn, followed by Lisa Vale. The last was Fabia, about Lisa's daughter.
Home Port centers on the life of Murray Vale; Lisa's son and brother to June, Fabia and older brother 'Windy'. Prouty's 'Vale' novels are psychologically based (Now, Voyager showed Charlotte's stunted growth from an overbearing mother) and we are introduced to Murray as a seemingly outgoing twenty-four year old, a counsellor at Tamarack Boy's Camp in Maine. Inside he feels belittled by his older brother 'Windy' - a natural athlete, gay, affable, and a born leader. Windy's reputation precedes him wherever he goes and he hasn't grown in that shadow. "Brother of my brother. That's all I am," he once remarked to his mother.
Scouting new camping locations, he takes a new counsellor onto the lake when a terrible storm erupts. The counsellor drowns and Murray is washed ashore. As he makes his way back to camp through the dense forest, a search party begins and he is deemed drowned over the nearby falls. With the death of the counsellor on his mind, wouldn't it be easier to disappear and begin a new life? In Northern Maine he stumbles on a fishing camp and is hired on as a guide named Joe. Popular with the yearly guests, a romance begins with young Nora Brock. Things seem well until a 'deus ex machina' brings his two world together, and his escape into the Navy brings about the honour and completion he had been eluding all these years.
Home Port is an insightful portrayal of a young man's search for place, a man who feels most comfortable alone with nature far from the pressures of society. Nora Brock also dreams of a simple life in the wilderness, and encourages his Entomology studies. The threads of his inner journey, the emerging support of his family, and the search for a home port make for an entertaining and enlightening read.
I feel like I know the Vales, with Charlotte, Dr. Jaquith and June Vale making appearances in Home Port. One of my favourites is Lisa Vale and I now have a hardcover copy of the book starring her, first printed in 1938. I found a nice hardcover of Home Port including original dust jacket, in a junky used bookstore, in a dusty pile, surrounded by boxes. When I asked the price she said "all those old ones are $2."
I find the books of Olive Higgins Prouty entertaining, with substance and emotional depth. These are not dynamic or exciting, but introspective and satisfying reads. I recommend her.
1947 / Hardcover / 284 pages
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