Stoner John Williams Epub Download
Oleta Blaylock
Stoner by John Williams: A Classic Novel of American Literature
Stoner is a novel by John Williams, first published in 1965. It tells the story of William Stoner, a poor farmer's son who becomes a professor of English literature at the University of Missouri. Stoner faces many challenges and disappointments in his personal and professional life, but remains devoted to his passion for literature and teaching. Stoner is widely regarded as a masterpiece of American literature, praised for its realistic and elegant prose, its profound character study, and its universal themes of love, work, and death.
Plot Summary
The novel begins with a brief introduction of Stoner's life and death, stating that he was "held in no particular esteem" by his colleagues and students, and that his only legacy was a "minor" book on Renaissance literature. The novel then flashes back to Stoner's childhood in the late 19th century, when he helps his father on their farm in rural Missouri. At the age of 19, he is sent by his father to study agriculture at the state university in Columbia. There, he takes a required survey course in English literature, taught by Professor Archer Sloane. Stoner is deeply moved by the works of Shakespeare and Milton, and decides to change his major to English. He also becomes friends with two fellow students, Gordon Finch and David Masters, who share his interest in literature.
Stoner completes his bachelor's degree in 1916, and is offered a teaching assistantship by Sloane. He decides to stay at the university and pursue a master's degree. He also falls in love with Edith Bostwick, a young woman from a wealthy family in St. Louis. They marry in 1917, but their relationship soon turns sour. Edith is cold and distant, and Stoner realizes that they have nothing in common. They have a daughter, Grace, whom Stoner loves dearly, but Edith neglects and resents.
Stoner continues his academic career, earning his doctorate in 1920 and becoming an assistant professor. He publishes his dissertation as a book, which receives some positive reviews but little attention. He also develops a friendship with Lomax, a new instructor in the English department who has a physical disability. However, their relationship turns hostile when Lomax's protégé, Charles Walker, joins the department as a graduate student. Walker is an arrogant and incompetent scholar who plagiarizes Stoner's work and accuses him of unfair grading. Lomax uses his influence as the department chair to sabotage Stoner's career, denying him promotions and assigning him heavy teaching loads.
In 1932, Stoner meets Katherine Driscoll, a young instructor who is working on her doctorate under Sloane's supervision. They share a mutual attraction and admiration for each other's work. They begin an affair, which brings them happiness and fulfillment. However, their relationship is discovered by Lomax, who threatens to expose them and ruin their careers. Stoner and Katherine decide to end their affair and part ways.
The novel ends with Stoner's death from cancer in 1956. He dies alone in his office, clutching a copy of his book. He reflects on his life and realizes that he has loved it despite its hardships and failures. He thinks of Katherine as "the only light" in his life, and feels a sense of peace.
Critical Reception
Stoner was initially published by Viking Press in 1965, but received little attention from critics or readers. It sold about 2,000 copies before going out of print. However, it gained a cult following among writers and academics who admired its literary quality and emotional depth. In 2003, it was reissued by New York Review Books Classics, with an introduction by John McGahern. It received rave reviews from critics such as Morris Dickstein, James Wood, Julian Barnes, Tim Kreider, and Anna Quindlen. It also became an international bestseller, especially in Europe, where it was translated into several languages and praised by writers such as Ian McEwan, Colum McCann, J.M. Coetzee, and Bert Wagendorp.
Stoner has been hailed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century by many critics and readers. It has been compared to the works of Thomas Hardy, Leo Tolstoy, Gustave Flaubert, Anton Chekhov, Ernest Hemingway, Philip Roth, Richard Yates, and Marilynne Robinson. It has been praised for its realism, simplicity, elegance, clarity, and honesty. It has been described as a "perfect novel", a "quiet miracle", a "hidden masterpiece", and a "novel of the heart". It has also been seen as a novel of the academic life, a novel of the American Midwest, a novel of the human condition, and a novel of the self.
Epub Download
If you are interested in reading Stoner by John Williams, you can download it in epub format from the following sources:
- [Stoner : a novel : Williams, John, 1922-1994 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive]
- [Stoner : Williams, John, 1922-1994 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive]
- [Stoner : Williams, John, 1922-1994 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive]
These sources are free and legal to use. However, you may need an epub reader to open the files. You can also convert them to other formats such as pdf or mobi using online tools.
I hope you enjoy reading Stoner by John Williams. It is a novel that will stay with you for a long time.
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