Sy Levin, an ex-sot with an MA in English, gets canned from his teaching position in New York. By sheer dumb luck he lands a job teaching English composition at fictional Cascadia College, in the fictional town of Easchester, in the fictional state of Cascadia. This is somewhere between the Cascades and the Rockies. The college is a rather dry campus steered by the esteemed Dr. Seagram. Several faculty wives lead the local Anti-Drinking League which does not seem to deter the staff of his department; Sy himself still occasionally imbibes. On arrival, after having hot food dumped in his lap and being urinated upon by his supervisors tot, he spends 100 pages getting the skinny on the college, the department, the staff and their politics. But, what is a bachelor to do in a town that rolls up the streets by 10 P.M. and where it rains often (Almost as much as Las Vegas in the CSI TV drama)? Chase skirt!; what else? So, after attempts at coitus with a barmaid and a co-faculty member, he lands one of his students, then his supervisors wife. He is settling in, as does any character in his contemporarys novels; e.g., Roth, Bellow, Heller, Styron. Anyway, he moves on the discombobulate temporarily the department and his life permanently(?).
Incidentally, dont read this edition; it lacks sorely a competent editor. Immediately Eastchester becomes Easchester. Many words are misspelled (e.g., Areopagitica, coonsidered, scread) and a wrong word (although spelled correctly) is often used (e.g., lips instead of hips). Find another edition.
Incidentally, dont read this edition; it lacks sorely a competent editor. Immediately Eastchester becomes Easchester. Many words are misspelled (e.g., Areopagitica, coonsidered, scread) and a wrong word (although spelled correctly) is often used (e.g., lips instead of hips). Find another edition.
Third Printing, Jan. '67. This paperback does not have the same cover as the one I've seen. Nor does it have an ISBN number/barcode. Just too old, I guess. In perfectly readable condition.
