The Gypsy Scholar: A Writer's Comic Search for a Publisher

This memoir of a young Ph.D's experiences in the 1970s, as he sought, obtained and fulfilled teaching jobs at three religious colleges in Oklahoma, Kansas and western Pennsylvania, was rejected by many trade publishers before it finally was taken up by a university press. Well written, fast paced, funny and enjoyable, it deserves a sizable audience. Hanna paints a humorous picture of educational and social conditions in small colleges, struggles for a livelihood in academia, problems of appealing to jocks and other unwilling students of freshman English. Most delightful of all is his account of attempts to get his manuscript published. Readers of PW may recall his article ""Looking for a Publisher'' (Nov. 11, 1983), in which he cited the various responses he received from trade and university press editors. In this book he includes dozens of rejection letters,accompanied by ironic commentary. (July)