I collect children’s books for the illustrations. If they come with a fabulous story, all the better. The Fate of Fausto is a charmingly-illustrated book by acclaimed writer and artist, Oliver Jeffers (b. 1977). Jeffers’ book is a tale of greed carried to absurd limits. The story is inspired by a poem that Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) wrote two years before his death, as he reflected that the wellspring of happiness lies in a source both simple and countercultural in our capitalist society: “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”. Here is the poem, which appeared in the May 2005 issue of The New Yorker.

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and
funny writer, now dead
and I were at a party given
by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.

I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something
he can never have.” And I said,
“What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that
I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!

Jeffers wraps this message in a lovely picture book that combines artful illustrations with a timeless tale. It is my kind of collectible book.

The protagonist in the story is Fausto, a greedy man who decides he wants to own the whole world, from the smallest flower to the largest ocean. Building on Jeffers’s earlier illustrated stories of the absurdity of ownership. The Fate of Fausto reminds me of The Little Prince, the beloved classic by Saint-Exupéry, whose characters serve to convey the existential advice on the futility of hubris.

One by one, Fausto demands the surrender of sovereignty from all that he comes upon. The flower, being delicate, assents to being owned by Fausto. The sheep, being sheepish, puts up no objection. Threatened, the tree bows down before him. When the lake questions Fausto’s self-appointed authority, he throws a tantrum to show the lake “who’s boss,” and the lake surrenders.

But when the mountain, grounded in her autonomy, refuses to move, Fausto flies into a fit of fury so menacing that even the mountain breaks down and submits to being owned.

Seized by greed, not content to own just the flower, the sheep, the tree, the lake and the mountain, Fausto usurps a boat and heads for the open sea. Alone amid the blue expanse, he bellows his claim of ownership. But the sea is silent. Fausto yells louder still, unsure quite where to aim his fury, for the sea stretches in all directions.

Finally, the sea responds, calmly questioning how Fausto can wish to own her if he doesn’t even love her. Oh, but I do, I do! the riled Fausto insists. The sea, in agreement with the great humanistic philosopher and psychologist Erich Fromm’s observation that “understanding and loving are inseparable,” tells Fausto that he couldn’t possibly love her if he doesn’t understand her. Anxious to stake his claim, Fausto scolds the sea for being wrong, barks that he understands her deeply, then swiftly demands that she submit to his ownership or he will show her who’s boss. “And how will you do that?” asks the sea. “By making a fist and stamping my feet”, Fausto replies. With her timeless wisdom, having witnessed human folly since the dawn of humanity, the sea invites Fausto to show her just how he plans to stamp his foot, so she can understand.

And Fausto, “in order to show his anger and omnipotence,” perches overboard and aims his foot at the sea. Swiftly and inevitably, the laws of physics take hold and Fausto disappears into the fathomless sea. The sea, Jeffers tells us, feels sorry for Fausto, but goes on being a sea, as the mountain does being a mountain.

The Fate of Fausto is an illustrated parable in that classic sense of a moral tale told with simplicity, and lovely illustrations. It is a simple tale, yet one that is precious and life-affirming if only we take its message to heart, remembering always that when all is said and done, we matter little in the grand scheme of things, and only what’s done in kindness and a sympathetic love of the world counts towards a life rich in the eternity of happiness. Read it before it is too late.

Note

This review is based on edited extracts from a lengthier review of Jeffers’ book by Mary Popova, founder of Brain Pickings (now Mariapopova). Oliver Jeffers (b. 1977) makes art and tells stories. From his highly acclaimed debut, How to Catch a Star he has gone on to create a collection of bestselling picture books which have been translated into many language all over the world, winning multiple awards including the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award, Blue Peter Book of the Year, and CBI Book of the Year. He was shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal five times. Lost and Found was made into a BAFTA-winning animated film. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Oliver now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and young son.