Tom Pierson's freshman obsessions-with American literature and with the pert assistant to the dean of Abbott College-dominate his first term. When his idealism, inspired by Jack London's portrayal of working-class struggles, collides with establishment forces, he learns to rue a lesson from London: that fate is often capriciously twisted. Steven Dhondt brings passion and literary sophistication to this coming-of-age novel. The telltale themes-idolization...