The Seeker

"The Seeker" by Harry Leon Wilson is an early 1900s story about a boy named Bernal Linford growing up in a small town, facing questions about what to believe, especially about Santa Claus. The book shows Bernal's life as he deals with being a kid, his family, especially his brother Allan and caretaker Clytemnestra, and difficult ideas about faith. Bernal starts to doubt things as he wonders if belief is the same as what's real, leading to a sad moment when he understands faith differently. The story explores Bernal's thoughts, his family connections, and how his grandfather, Reverend Allan Delcher, impacts him, as they live under strict religious rules and community expectations. As Bernal looks for answers in a world of "evil or good," readers join him in thinking about important questions about faith, who he is, and what is true.