The Mosquito Coast (novel)

The Mosquito Coast is a 1981 novel by American author Paul Theroux. The story follows the disillusioned inventor Allie Fox, who becomes increasingly critical of American consumerism and materialism. Frustrated with modern society, he decides to abandon the United States and create a new life for his family in the Honduran jungle.

Allie Fox, along with his wife and children, relocates to a remote area on the Mosquito Coast, where he intends to build an ideal, self-sufficient community dubbed "Jerónimo." He uses his engineering skills and ingenuity to construct various contraptions and establish a seemingly utopian existence, based on his own idiosyncratic and often tyrannical vision.

As the family attempts to adapt to their new environment, Allie's mental stability deteriorates, and his grand plans become increasingly erratic and dangerous. His obsession with controlling his family and the environment around him leads to conflict and ultimately, tragedy. The novel explores themes of idealism, the perils of utopianism, the corruption of power, the clash between technology and nature, and the destructive consequences of unchecked ego. The story is narrated from the perspective of Allie's eldest son, Charlie, offering a poignant and often unsettling view of his father's descent into madness and the impact on the family.