Out of the American neon desert of Roller Dromes, chili parlors, country music, and girls who want “to live in a trailer and play records all night” comes ex-marine and troubadour Norwood Pratt. Sent on a mission to New York he gets involved in a wild journey that takes him in and out of stolen cars, freight trains, and buses. By the time he returns home to Texas, Norwood has met his true love, Rita Lee, on a bus; befriended the second shortest midget in show business and “the world's smallest perfect fat man”; and helped Joann “the chicken with a college education,” realize her true potential in life. As with all Portis’ fiction, the tone is cool, sympathetic, and funny. This is the second installment in Overlook's planned four-volume series of Portis reissues. Portis made his debut into the book world with this 1966 first novel, which many insist is his best. LJ's reviewer found the book more character- than plot-driven but nonetheless enjoyed it. (LJ 8/66) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. “[Charles Portis] understood, and conveyed, the grain of America, in ways that may prove valuable in future to historians trying to understand what was decent about us as a nation.” --Donna Tartt, New York Times Book Review Charles Portis (1933–2020) is celebrated as one of America’s most distinctive and original literary voices. Best known for his classic novel True Grit , Portis combined sharp wit, deadpan humor, and a keen eye for the absurdities of everyday life to create stories that are both timeless and deeply American. His novels―including Norwood , The Dog of the South , Gringos , and True Grit ―have earned cult status for their offbeat characters, comic brilliance, and narrative charm. Beyond fiction, Portis was an accomplished journalist and essayist, producing incisive reportage and cultural commentary that reveal his unmatched gift for observation and language. His collected nonfiction, short stories, and plays in Escape Velocity showcase the full range of his talent, from satirical humor to poignant reflections on American identity. Portis’s work continues to captivate readers who value originality, wit, and storytelling that transcends genre. Whether through his iconic Western or his eccentric road novels, Portis remains a writer whose voice is unmistakable and whose influence endures.