A Frolic of His Own

by William Gaddis

Satire on Americans' penchant for taking one another to court. Oscar Crease, a college professor and author of a play about his grandfather's role in the Civil War, sues a Hollywood producer who pirates the play and makes it into a blockbuster movie. More lawsuits follow. Throughout the novel--written mainly in dialog--Oscar, his family, his friends, and his lawyers talk at each other until finally an old judge lays down the law. Some strong language. 1994.