The Road to Wellville

T. C. Boyle tells the fictionalized story of John Harvey Kellogg, the inventor of cornflakes. As perhaps the world`s most successful health nut, Kellogg founded the Battle Creek Sanitarium, where he preached vegetarianism, colonic irrigation, and various other extreme remedies to his wealthy clients. (On his website, Boyle lists a typical breakfast menu at the spa: Nut Lisbon Steak, Protose Patties, Nuttolene & Jelly, Corn Pulp, Sliced Banana with Beaten Meltose, Granuto, and Graham Grits.) Among those there for the cure are Will and Eleanor Lightbody, who hope to alleviate both their stomach problems and their grief over the death of a child. The action is enlivened by George Kellogg, John`s ne`er-do-well son, who tries to undermine his father`s empire, and by a young entrepreneur, Charlie Ossining, who has his own ambitions for breakfast food success. Boyle`s wry satire takes on American dreams, entrepreneurialism, money-worship, and gullibility with his characteristic comic gusto. It was made into a 1994 movie starring Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Kellogg. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.