The Castaway

Written as a sequel to Sunset in Sarasota, Piero Rivolta’s acclaimed 2007 novel, The Castaway tells the story of a man found adrift on a catamaran in the Gulf of Mexico, who is rescued and brought to a care facility in the Yucatan run by an unconventional Jesuit. The man seems to remember nothing of his past except his name. To speed his recovery, the priest engages him in searching conversations and introduces him to a captivating woman who  runs a school for children. As their three lives intertwine and their secrets come to light, they become entangled in a complex web of emotions.

The Castaway, at its heart, is a romantic tale infused with a parable-like quality recalling the fiction of Paulo Coelho and Hermann Hesse.  The novel explores the nature of memory, beauty, love and friendship, and offers a profound affirmation of the healing power of words.

Published in 2010 by New Chapter Publisher, The Castaway was honored as an Award-Winning Finalist in the “Literary Fiction” category of the 2010 International Book Awards, and received an Honorable Mention at the Paris Book Festival in the “General Fiction” category.