Theo of Golden: A Review. Do you know of this impressive novel and its unusual history? How unusual? Well, it was initially self-published in 2023 and sold over 170, 000 copies before a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster took over as publisher in November, 2025. The book, now on The New York Times bestseller list, continues to make waves. What’s it about?

Brief synopsis of Theo of Golden

Theo, an elderly man who lives in New York City, arrives one spring day in the southern town of Golden, indicating he plans to stay for a while. Theo is mysterious, cultivated, wealthy, and a native of Portugal. It isn’t clear why he came to Golden. His initial interactions with local residents reveal that he is curious, intelligent, and uncommonly kind. In a coffee shop Theo discovers a trove of 92 penciled portraits on the walls. Impressed by the quality of the portraits, he decides to buy the lot and give each one to the person depicted in the portrait. Theo’s gentle nature is evident as he presents each portrait and sets off a series of revelations about the person receiving the portrait. These usually tender moments foster personal bonds between Theo and many others in the community, bonds so strong that they cause subtle changes for the better in Golden. The author, Allen Levi, tellingly quotes William Wordsworth in one section. “The best portion of a good man’s life is the little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” This, I think, is the theme of his book. To see what Goodreads had to say about the novel, click here.

Theo’s interactions with the town’s citizens expand and ultimately become entangled. A series of episodes unleashes generous warmth, unexpected complications, tragedy, and surprising revelations. Mr. Levi excels while describing the thoughts of his characters as they interact with each other. He expertly exposes their fears, delusions, and hopes. By understanding each character’s wants, worries, and fears, readers experience the story viscerally and soon become concerned for the characters.

What prompted Theo of Golden? Allen Levi has explained that the seed for his book was planted by a series of portraits he saw on display in a café in his home town of Columbus, Georgia. Wouldn’t it be fun, he thought, if someone bought all of the portraits and gave them to the people whose faces were depicted. With that thought in mind, he began writing, not knowing where he was going. Despite his early lack of vision, the author came up with what I think are perfect plot twists that explain and clarify much of the story in a logical and satisfactory manner. Readers gradually learn of Theo’s tragic past, and why he came to Golden.

About the author

In publicity of the book, Allen Levi is often described as an attorney, judge, singer/songwriter, and author living on and caring for family acreage in middle Georgia. Here’s what his website revels: Allen grew up in Columbus, Georgia, attended University of Georgia for degrees in English and Law, and worked as an attorney from 1980 to 1990. He left law practice for two years in 1990, moved to Scotland, and, while there, received a degree in Scottish fiction from the University of Edinburgh. He returned home, resumed law practice for three years, and finally ventured into vocational music in 1996.

Did you catch that? That unexplained move to Scotland? So, here’s this lawyer who decides to give up his practice. What does he do? Well, he throws a dart at his world map and it hits Scotland, so there he goes. And while there he decides to study Scottish fiction. Uh huh! There has to be a story explaining why he moved to Scotland, and an interesting one that reveals what motivated this major shift in his life, but I haven’t found a single clue regarding that. Everything I’ve seen about him and his book simply reports this startling fact of his move to Scotland as if it were an everyday occurrence. Surely journalists have asked him about this surprising move, but I haven’t found an answer as yet. If any reader knows what prompted his move, I’d love to hear of it.

As regular readers know, I at times review books, for example: The Brothers Karamazov (see here and here), and one of my favorite authors (see here).

Happy New Year to all on this January 1, 2026!