Mr. Opp

"Mr. Opp" by Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story introduces us to D. Webster Opp, a man with grand dreams yet a history of missed opportunities. As he returns to his small hometown of Cove City for the funeral of his step-father, he embarks on a journey filled with ambition, imaginative schemes, and personal challenges, particularly concerning his half-sister Kippy, who has special needs. The opening of the novel presents Mr. Opp as a hopeful yet somewhat bumbling figure, caught between his lofty aspirations of becoming a successful businessman and the reality of his life in Cove City. On his way home, he meets Jimmy Fallows, who provides comic relief while highlighting Mr. Opp’s tendency to miss opportunities. As Mr. Opp plans to make something of himself in his old hometown, the narrative sets the stage for exploring themes of ambition, social status, and the complexities of familial relationships, especially surrounding his fragile sister Kippy, while also shedding light on the quirks and dynamics of small-town life.