Have always loved Vonnegut (maybe because I so agree/lean toward his "politics" and take on things of all sorts). Again bought this novel at John Merrill's Bookshop in Hallowell. Long taught Welcome To The Monkeyhouse and other V. works as an English teacher.
Amazing journey of Eugene Debs Hartke, born in Indiana, who attended West Point, served as a commander in Vietnam where he "disposed" of many people, all the while being called "The Preacher," who ends up teaching learning-disabled college students in upstate NY at Tarkington College. He's fired after a huge inquiry by the daughter of one of the school's trustees (who's tailed him with a tape recorder over many months). The objection is he's encouraged students to think in alternate ways about things that history books and The Government say are true, including the US "incursion" into Vietnam.
So much more to this novel. Asks so many questions about industry/business/corporate "culture" and environmental degradation and destruction. Also refers to Shakespeare, ancient Biblical and Hebrew texts, and the American penchant for Bartlett's Quotation knowledge.
The reader is left with a ? mark on the last page which is a mathematical equation of the novel's themes, characters and plot. So cool. And so relevant. And such a good book.
Read it!