Basil Everman

"Basil Everman" by Elsie Singmaster is an early 20th-century novel that explores themes of memory, loss, and societal perceptions. Centered around the Lister family and the community of Waltonville, the story unfolds with Richard Lister's college commencement, stirring mixed emotions for his mother, Mrs. Lister, who reflects on her late brother, Basil. Basil's legacy as a gifted but troubled writer casts a long shadow over the family, intensified by the arrival of Evan Utterly, a newcomer seeking to uncover Basil's literary works. Utterly's arrival sets off a journey that intertwines the past and present, exposing complex familial relationships and the impact of unrealized potential, all while contrasting societal expectations with personal genius.