Hume's Fork (novel)
Encyclopedia
Hume's Fork is a satirical
novel
released in April 2007. It is written by Ron Cooper and published by Bancroft Press.
about a philosophy
professor
named Legare "Greazy" Hume. He attends a conference in Charleston, South Carolina, with his eccentric colleague Saul Grossman and has to stay, much to his annoyance, with his family. A professional wrestling tournament takes place in Charleston at the same time, and soon the wrestlers philosophize while the philosophers begin to act like wrestlers. Hume works through philosophical problems while facing his own identity crisis.
The title comes from a distinction made by the 18th-century British philosopher David Hume
while also referring to several personal choices that Legare Hume must make.
called it a "mix of zaniness and erudition, satire and insight . . . as delicious as it is original." Novelist Ron Rash
said it "is one of the funniest novels I have read in a long time." Philosopher Robert Solomon
said the "book reminded me of David Lodge's
Small World: An Academic Romance
, with a philosophical twist." Writer Katherine Ramsland described it as "Sideways
meets Socrates
."http://www.bancroftpress.com/rcooper_humesfork_praise.html
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
released in April 2007. It is written by Ron Cooper and published by Bancroft Press.
Summary
Hume's Fork is a novelNovel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
about a philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
named Legare "Greazy" Hume. He attends a conference in Charleston, South Carolina, with his eccentric colleague Saul Grossman and has to stay, much to his annoyance, with his family. A professional wrestling tournament takes place in Charleston at the same time, and soon the wrestlers philosophize while the philosophers begin to act like wrestlers. Hume works through philosophical problems while facing his own identity crisis.
The title comes from a distinction made by the 18th-century British philosopher David Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
while also referring to several personal choices that Legare Hume must make.
Reception
This novel has been well received by critics. Novelist and MacArthur Fellow Rebecca GoldsteinRebecca Goldstein
Rebecca Goldstein is an American novelist and professor of philosophy. She has written five novels, a number of short stories and essays, and biographical studies of mathematician Kurt Gödel and philosopher Baruch Spinoza....
called it a "mix of zaniness and erudition, satire and insight . . . as delicious as it is original." Novelist Ron Rash
Ron Rash
Ron Rash , an American poet, short story writer and novelist, is the Parris Distinguished Professor in Appalachian Cultural Studies at Western Carolina University. Rash was born in Chester, South Carolina, in 1953, grew up in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, and is a graduate of Gardner-Webb...
said it "is one of the funniest novels I have read in a long time." Philosopher Robert Solomon
Robert Solomon
Robert Solomon may refer to:* Robert Solomon , former member of the Australian House of Representatives* Robert M. Solomon, Methodist Bishop* Robert B. Solomon, US Major General...
said the "book reminded me of David Lodge's
David Lodge (author)
David John Lodge CBE, is an English author.In his novels, Lodge often satirises academia in general and the humanities in particular. He was brought up Catholic and has described himself as an "agnostic Catholic". Many of his characters are Catholic and their Catholicism is a major theme...
Small World: An Academic Romance
Small World: An Academic Romance
Small World: An Academic Romance is a humorous "campus novel" by the British writer David Lodge. It is a sequel to Lodge's 1975 novel, Changing Places....
, with a philosophical twist." Writer Katherine Ramsland described it as "Sideways
Sideways
Sideways is a 2004 comedy-drama film written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne and directed by Payne. Adapted from Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, Sideways follows two forty-something year old men, portrayed by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, who take a week-long road trip to...
meets Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
."http://www.bancroftpress.com/rcooper_humesfork_praise.html