cover image Fidelio

Fidelio

Rodger Bridwell. Dutton Books, $16.95 (227pp) ISBN 978-0-525-24397-7

On one level, this concerns a 55-year-old American whose business collapsed and who then determined to sail the Atlantic alone in the 32-foot Fidelio. At sea for 68 days between London and Barbados, he fought horrendous storms and came close to failing in his objective. But Bridwell is far more intent on the metaphysical aspect of his story. A scientist who worked on the Manhattan Project in World War II and who has been deeply influenced by relativity theories, he is a convinced mystic, strongly interested in Buddhism and other Eastern religions and a believer in a ""higher-dimensional world where spirit reigns supreme.'' Fidelio means ``faithful one,'' and, as his ship was faithful to him, he remains faithful to his views of supernatural life. (July 29)