Straight Man: A Novel (Unabridged) Straight Man: A Novel (Unabridged)

Straight Man: A Novel (Unabridged‪)‬

    • 3.7 • 20 Ratings
    • $16.99

    • $16.99

Publisher Description

William Henry Devereaux, Jr., spiritually suited to playing left field but forced by a bad hamstring to try first base, is the unlikely chairman of the English department at West Central Pennsylvania University. Over the course of a single convoluted week, he threatens to execute a duck, has his nose slashed by a feminist poet, discovers that his secretary writes better fiction than he does, suspects his wife of having an affair with his dean, and finally confronts his philandering elderly father, the one-time king of American Literary Theory, at an abandoned amusement park.

Such is the canvas of Richard Russo's Straight Man, a novel of surpassing wit, poignancy, and insight. As he established in his previous books -- Mohawk, The Risk Pool, and Nobody's Fool -- Russo is unique among contemporary authors for his ability to flawlessly capture the soul of the wise guy and the heart of a difficult parent. In Hank Devereaux, Russo has created a hero whose humor and identification with the absurd are mitigated only by his love for his family, friends, and, ultimately, knowledge itself.

Unforgettable, compassionate, and laugh-out-loud funny, Straight Man cements Richard Russo's reputation as one of the master storytellers of our time.

GENRE
Fiction
NARRATOR
SF
Sam Freed
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
14:12
hr min
RELEASED
2003
August 14
PUBLISHER
Random House Audio
SIZE
703.7
MB

Customer Reviews

mildwithalaughingshroud ,

Reality disappoints no less often

A career in academics is no less disappointing than the thoughts and actions of the protagonist, who anyway comes to an acceptable conclusion. Could be stronger on social justice issues, but worth reading and engaging critically.

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