Book excerpt: In 1919, a young man, Barker, returns to his family farm in historic South Carolina, near a quince plantation. He is searching for the answers to the pain he feels from the loss of his parents in a tragic accident. Inspired by the legendary properties of quince, the forgotten fruit, Barker seeks insight into not only his own misfortune, but also, as it turns out, all gun-inflicted tragedies, from war to children at schools, marring an otherwise peaceful society. Such quest is increased by his captivation of a beautiful heiress, Polly, the owner of the quince farm, who happens to be friends with an elderly man, Gunter, known as the quince prophet. Gunter advocates a way of life designed to preserve the living Earth and eliminate further tragedies. Barker’s exalted love for Polly undergoes radical changes as he, along with her, absorb deeper knowledge. The striking unexpected resolution of Barker’s quest for enlightenment and peace and finding his place in the spirit of the Universe is revealed in the prescient pages of The Sublime Secret.