Having just been released from the Navy, Benny Profane is content to lead a slothful existence with his friends, where the only real ambition is to perfect the art of "schlemihlhood," or being a dupe, and where "responsibility" is a dirty word. Among his pals--called the Whole Sick Crew--is Slab, an artist who can't seem to paint anything other than cheese danishes. But Profane's life changes dramatically when he befriends Stencil, an active ambitious young man with an intriguing mission--to find out the identity of a woman named V., who knew Stencil's father during the war, but who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
Review
"Filled with wild humor, intentive wordplay and a darkly imaginative power." -- _-- _Philadelphia Inquirer
"This work may well stand as one of the very best works of the century." -- _-- _Atlantic Review
"[A] brilliant and turbulent first novel." -- _-- George Plimpton, _New York Times Book Review
"[L]eaves the imagination spent and the mind reeling." -- _-- _New York Herald Tribune
"Filled with wild humor, intentive wordplay and a darkly imaginative power." -- _Philadelphia Inquirer_
"This work may well stand as one of the very best works of the century." -- _Atlantic Review_
"[A] brilliant and turbulent first novel." -- _George Plimpton, _New York Times Book Review
"[L]eaves the imagination spent and the mind reeling." -- _New York Herald Tribune_
Description:
Amazon.com Review
Having just been released from the Navy, Benny Profane is content to lead a slothful existence with his friends, where the only real ambition is to perfect the art of "schlemihlhood," or being a dupe, and where "responsibility" is a dirty word. Among his pals--called the Whole Sick Crew--is Slab, an artist who can't seem to paint anything other than cheese danishes. But Profane's life changes dramatically when he befriends Stencil, an active ambitious young man with an intriguing mission--to find out the identity of a woman named V., who knew Stencil's father during the war, but who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
Review
"Filled with wild humor, intentive wordplay and a darkly imaginative power." -- _-- _Philadelphia Inquirer
"This work may well stand as one of the very best works of the century." -- _-- _Atlantic Review
"[A] brilliant and turbulent first novel." -- _-- George Plimpton, _New York Times Book Review
"[L]eaves the imagination spent and the mind reeling." -- _-- _New York Herald Tribune
"Filled with wild humor, intentive wordplay and a darkly imaginative power." -- _Philadelphia Inquirer_
"This work may well stand as one of the very best works of the century." -- _Atlantic Review_
"[A] brilliant and turbulent first novel." -- _George Plimpton, _New York Times Book Review
"[L]eaves the imagination spent and the mind reeling." -- _New York Herald Tribune_