A Short Walk Through a Wide World

A Short Walk Through a Wide World (2024) is the debut novel by American author Douglas Westerbeke, who works for the Cleveland Public Library system, from which he took inspiration for his novel. A Short Walk Through a Wide World, a novel in the genre of fabulism, was chosen as a Barnes & Noble “Discover Pick of the Month” and has been favorably compared to The Life of Pi, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Alchemist, and The Midnight Library. Beginning in 1885 Paris, the novel follows nine-year-old Aubry Tourvel, who suffers from a mysterious sickness that will kill her unless she keeps traveling and never lingers in any location for more than a few days. Over the course of decades, Aubry circles the world, witnessing many strange places and events and exploring complex issues such as The Lasting Impact of Brief Connections, The Tension Between Exploration and Rootedness, and The Limits of Scientific Rationalism.

This guide refers to the 2024 hardcover edition published by Avid Reader Press.