Franky Furbo

Wharton ( Birdy ) again relies on a characteristic mix of fantasy and psychological realism in this fable for adults. During WW II, a dying American soldier, William Wiley, and his German captor, Wilhelm Klug, are miraculously rescued by a fox endowed with extraordinary powers, Franky Furbo. For William, the experience is indisputably true; when he discovers later that neither his wife nor children believe in Franky, he endures a crisis of faith and searches desperately for verification. The intricate fantasy is given depth by first-person narration and the utter credibility of William's dilemma. And the book's mystical ending gives Wharton an opportunity to explore new facets of favorite themes: our relationship to nature, the need for peace and tolerance, and the indestructible bonds of love. His vision skirts didacticism and sentimentality, instructing by inspiring. Author tour. (Oct.)