Horace Afoot

by Frederick Reuss

In this brilliantly comic first novel, a solitary and articulate outsider walks the quiet streets of a small midwestern town, making himself up from fragments of Latin poems, shards of ancient thought, and a few scattered appearances before the county clerk. And the townsfolk are understandably suspiciousespecially when this man who calls himself Horace starts making random Socratic phone calls at all hours and turning up half-dressed every time there's trouble. Following in the literary footsteps of Walker Percy, Frederick Reuss charms us with the musings, vices, and brief encounters of a reluctant humanist who ingeniously challenges a broad American complacency with a charmingly specific search for What do you think of St. Bernards?

Genres: Fiction

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Frederick Reuss is the acclaimed author of several novels. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and two daughters."

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is best described as the literary equivalent of a Jim Jarmusch film. By this, I mean that it's somewhat plotless, meanders greatly, and doesn't really seem to be about what it purports itself to be about, but a viewer (or reader, in this case) is left with the overwhelming impression when all is said and done that they've just witnessed an artistic stroke of brililance, even if they can't explain why.

Horace is a man of ambiguous past. While hitchhiking, he becomes enamored of a town named Oblivion and decides to make it his home. Shunning automobiles and human contact, he spends his days and nights making random phone calls to strangers and memorizing the words of the great Latin philosophers. Along the way, he befriends a cancer-stricken librarian, he rescues an injured crow, he saves an assaulted woman from what seemed at the time to be certain death. And that's just about it...

Well-written and occasionally thought-provoking, this book is enjoyable but never nearly as briliant as the critics and blurbs would leave you to believe.

[Allen Duarte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretentious nonsense.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw Frederick Reuss speak at a conference; he is a good speaker. Afterwards, I ran into several times. He was kind enough to speak to me about writing, among topics. Needless to say, I immediately went out and got his book. Reuss' style and skill are excellent. However, I did not like the protagonist of this book. He was a little mean, and aloof. The plot was ordinary. I look forward to reading more from Reuss.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the central character of this book surprisingly much, He's a real idealist: frank, honest, kind of asperger's -like in his quirky isolation. Also, depiction of the library staff in this book rings true for this librarian! The last few chapters, when the main character's new-found relationships in the town of Oblivion play out, I found very amusing and poignant.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather liked this novel, finding it interesting. It did lack a plot but still kept me turning the pages. The main character was interesting full of what I would describe as morbid philosophy. Horace isolates himself with his philosophy but still can't stay completely without outside contact. He is an odd quirky character who will make you and keep you interested and intrigued.

[Doug Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual novel about a very unusual character. Horace has tried to isolate himself into a world devoid of emotions and attachments, but he gradually re-enters the world through a friendship with a dying small-town librarian and an accidental involvement in a local crime.

[Jaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living on the fringes of small town America, Quintus Horatius Flaccus responds to events through his chosen persona, Horace. Favorite quote: "THe ruse of an old librarian. To become more interested in your research than you yourself are."

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was weird, but sometimes weird is good. I think I would have loved it when I was in high school - jabs at the banality of middle America, quotes of Latin poetry (in Latin) and a character who takes Sylvia Plath as a pseudonym.

[Wes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horace Afoot achieves what few comedic novels do: it remains human amidst the satire.

Nuanced, somewhat sentimental, with antagonists who are maddening without becoming caricatures, it successfully balances intelligence and confection.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a good book...i didnt get some of it (beyond my comprehension),but it was fun and got me thinking too.

<3

[Nabil · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting plot set-up, but esentially no real story. Found it very hard to connect to the characters, ot take anyone's side in the story. A poorly written version of Catcher in the Rye.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of all time. I've nearly worn out my copy.