The Mosquito Coast

The Mosquito Coast is a novel by author Paul Theroux. Published in 1981, it won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was the Yorkshire Post Novel of the Year. Inspiration Theroux wrote the novel while living in London. Although he is rumored to have based the main character, Allie Fox, on himself, he denied this in an interview for Atlantic Unbound, saying he based the character on a number of people, including Pap, Huck Finn's father. Plot outline The story is told from the viewpoint of fourteen-year-old Charlie Fox and centers around his father, Allie, a brilliant inventor ("with nine patents, six pending") who becomes increasingly critical of consumerism in the United States, education and culture. Part One: Banana Boat Allie decides to move his family from Hatfield, Massachusetts, to escape the influence of the United States and the world war he fears is imminent, to enjoy a simpler life in La Mosquitia on the eponymous Mosquito Coast of Honduras. They travel in their pick-up truck to Baltimore and after giving away their truck to a tramp they board a banana boat to La Ceiba. During a violent storm, Allie repairs a bilge pump and has several run-ins with Reverend Spellgood who is traveling with his family to his mission in Honduras. His daughter Emily flirts with Charlie.