Campusland: A Novel

ISBN: 1250222370

Author: Johnston, Scott

Condition: New

"This high-spirited, richly imagined, and brave novel is a delight to read... Smart and hilarious."- Kirkus ReviewsJoyous, fast and funny, Scott Johnstons Campusland is a satiric howl at todays elite educational institutions-from safe spaces to tribal infighting to the sheer sanctimony. A wickedly delightful novel that may remind you of Tom Wolfe and David Lodge.Her room sucks. Her closet isnt big enough for two weeks-worth of outfits, much less her new Rag & Bone for fall. And theres nothing worth posting. Cruel. To Lulu Harris-It Girl-in-the-Making-her first year at the ultra-competitive Ivy-like Devon University is a dreary impediment. If shes fabulous and no one sees it, whats the point?To Eph Russell, who looks and sounds like an avatar of privilege (shh!-hes anything but) Devon is heaven. All day to think and read and linger over a Welsh rarebit at The Faculty Club, not to mention teach English 240 where he gets to discuss all his 19th Century favorites, like Mark Twain. If Eph could just get tenure, he could stay forever, but there are landmines everywhere.In his seventh year at Devon, Red Wheeler is the alpha dog on top of Devons progressive hierarchy, the most woke guy on campus. But when his position is challenged, Red is forced to take measures.Before first term is halfway finished, Lulu bungles her social cache with her clubbable upperclass peers, and is forced to reinvent herself. Shedding her designer clothes, she puts on flannel and a brand-new persona: campus victim. For Lulu to claw her way back to the top, shell build a pyre and roast anyone in her way.Presiding over this ferment is Milton Strauss, Devons feckless president, who spends his days managing perpetually aggrieved students, scheming administrators, jealous professors, billionaire donors, and bumptious frat boys. He just cant say yes fast enough. And what to do with Martika Malik-Adams? Isnt her giant salary as vice-president of Diversity & Inclusion enough?All paths converge as privileged, marginalized, and radical students form identity alliances, sacrifice education for outrage, and push varied agendas of political correctness that drags every free thought of higher learning into the lower depths of an entitled underclass.Campusland is a riotous, subversive and fresh read.