About the book
Hilarious and true-to-life, witty, compassionate, and impossible to put down, Straight Man follows Hank Devereaux through one very bad week in this novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls. • Now the AMC Original Series Lucky Hank.
William Henry Devereaux, Jr., is the reluctant chairman of the English department of a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Devereaux's reluctance is partly rooted in his character—he is a born anarchist—and partly in the fact that his department is more savagely divided than the Balkans.
In the course of a single week, Devereaux will have his nose mangled by an angry colleague, imagine his wife is having an affair with his dean, wonder if a curvaceous adjunct is trying to seduce him with peach pits, and threaten to execute a goose on local television. All this while coming to terms with his philandering father, the dereliction of his youthful promise, and the ominous failure of certain vital body functions. In short, Straight Man is classic Russo—side-splitting, poignant, compassionate, and unforgettable.
Look for Richard Russo's new book, Somebody's Fool, coming soon.
Editions of Straight Man
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780679432463
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780517284506
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780517369838
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780375701900
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307809940
- Audiobook
- ISBN 9780736694513
- Audiobook
- ISBN 9780739306918
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780739306925
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9781415900987
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9781415951828
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9781415999981
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780739307861
Read an Excerpt
Hilarious and true-to-life, witty, compassionate, and impossible to put down, Straight Man follows Hank Devereaux through one very bad week in this novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls. • Now the AMC Original Series Lucky Hank.
William Henry Devereaux, Jr., is the reluctant chairman of the English department of a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Devereaux's reluctance is partly rooted in his character—he is a born anarchist—and partly in the fact that his department is more savagely divided than the Balkans.
In the course of a single week, Devereaux will have his nose mangled by an angry colleague, imagine his wife is having an affair with his dean, wonder if a curvaceous adjunct is trying to seduce him with peach pits, and threaten to execute a goose on local television. All this while coming to terms with his philandering father, the dereliction of his youthful promise, and the ominous failure of certain vital body functions. In short, Straight Man is classic Russo—side-splitting, poignant, compassionate, and unforgettable.
Look for Richard Russo's new book, Somebody's Fool, coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Straight Man about?
Hilarious and true-to-life, witty, compassionate, and impossible to put down, Straight Man follows Hank Devereaux through one very bad week in this novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls. • Now the AMC Original Series Lucky Hank.
William Henry Devereaux, Jr., is the reluctant chairman of the English department of a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Devereaux's reluctance is partly rooted in his character—he is a born anarchist—and partly in the fact that his department is more savagely divided than the Balkans.
In the course of a single week, Devereaux will have his nose mangled by an angry colleague, imagine his wife is having an affair with his dean, wonder if a curvaceous adjunct is trying to seduce him with peach pits, and threaten to execute a goose on local television. All this while coming to terms with his philandering father, the dereliction of his youthful promise, and the ominous failure of certain vital body functions. In short, Straight Man is classic Russo—side-splitting, poignant, compassionate, and unforgettable.
Look for Richard Russo's new book, Somebody's Fool, coming soon.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Straight Man?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of Straight Man?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780679432463
Is Straight Man part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Vintage Contemporaries
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Straight Man?
Richard Russo
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Straight Man is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780679432463) and hardcover(ISBN 9780517284506) and hardcover(ISBN 9780517369838) and paperback(ISBN 9780375701900) and ebook(ISBN 9780307809940) and audiobook(ISBN 9780736694513) and audiobook(ISBN 9780739306918) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780739306925) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781415900987) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781415951828) and audiodisc(ISBN 9781415999981) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780739307861)
Where can I buy Straight Man online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Straight Man from below
Where can I buy Straight Man?