Straight Man

Dive into the chaotic, darkly humorous world of William Henry Devereaux Jr., the reluctant and perpetually exasperated chairman of the English department at a perpetually underfunded Pennsylvania college. Hank, a self-proclaimed anarchist, navigates a single, absurd week rife with personal and professional calamities. From a physically demanding confrontation with an irate colleague to paranoia about his wife's fidelity, and a flirtatious encounter involving peach pits, Hank's life spirals into a series of hilariously cringeworthy events. As he grapples with the legacy of his philandering father, the specter of his own unfulfilled potential, and the alarming decline of his bodily functions, Devereaux finds himself on a collision course with academic bureaucracy and his own existential dread. Richard Russo masterfully blends poignant reflection with side-splitting satire, offering a deeply human portrait of a man teetering on the edge, confronting middle age with a cynical wit that is both relatable and unforgettable.