Jitterbug Perfume

Tom Robbins' "Jitterbug Perfume" is a wildly imaginative and intoxicating journey spanning centuries and continents, intertwining the lives of a diverse cast of characters obsessed with the secrets of immortality and the ultimate fragrance. The narrative leaps from ancient Bohemia, where the god Pan bestows the gift of eternal life (and an extraordinary perfume formula) upon Alobar, a king who defies death, to present-day New Orleans, Seattle, and Paris. Here, we meet Priscilla Partido, a waitress with an uncanny sense of smell, and Madame DeValier, a master perfumer, both unwittingly drawn into a mystical quest. At its heart is the mystery of a blue bottle containing a precious, leaking liquid believed to be the essence of the universe, guarded by a modern-day janitor. Blending history, mythology, philosophy, and satire, Robbins explores themes of love, death, individuality, and the power of scent, creating a vibrant tapestry of interconnected destinies driven by a search for true freedom and the very breath of existence.