First published 1962
Sy Levin packs his bags and leaves New York behind for a fresh start. He accepts a position teaching English at a small college in Oregon, trading familiar city streets for the unfamiliar landscape of the Pacific Northwest. The fictional town offers him what he desperately needs: distance from his past and a chance to rebuild his life. But starting over proves more complicated than Levin anticipated. His new colleagues present their own challenges, and the academic world of this small college operates by rules he doesn't yet understand. As Levin settles into his teaching role, he must navigate not only the classroom but also the complex social dynamics of his adopted community. The promise of a new beginning collides with the reality that some problems follow you wherever you go. Levin discovers that reinventing yourself requires more than just changing your address.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, fresh-start, new-job
Setting: New York, Oregon, Pacific Northwest
Period: 20th Century
350 pages · Hardcover · Eyre and Spottiswoode