The English Major by Jim Harrison

Jim Harrison's The English Major follows Cliff, a recently divorced man who sets out on a road trip across America with a childhood puzzle of the United States and a mission to rename all the states and state birds. Armed with a sense of adventure and a desire to break free from his past, Cliff's journey takes him through a series of wild encounters, from rekindling an old flame to visiting a snake farm and reconnecting with his high-powered son in San Francisco. /n/n This novel is a reflective and humorous exploration of midlife crisis, filled with Harrison's signature wit and big-picture American themes. It's a story about reinvention, the absurdity of life, and the search for meaning in the latter half of life.

Reviews

Amazon · 2025-10-29

hilarious 3.50

The novel is raucous, hilarious, and peripatetic, capturing the essence of a man's journey of self-discovery. It is a lighter work compared to Harrison's more serious novels.

This reviewer finds 'The English Major' to be a raucous, hilarious, and peripatetic novel that captures the essence of a man's journey of self-discovery. They note that it is a lighter work compared to Harrison's more serious novels, but appreciate its humor and wit. The story is a reflective journey that explores themes of travel, literature, food, and fishing, making it an enjoyable read for fans of Harrison's work.

Quick quotes

But for the rest of us, Harrison does crude better than anyone. I'd add that 'The English Major' is raucous, hilarious and peripatetic.

The novel is a map of a man's journey into—and out of—himself, and it is vintage Harrison—reflective, big-picture American, and replete with wicked wit.

Although the two books share a distinctive melancholy, there's nothing repetitive about 'The English Major.' Harrison has been brooding over these themes for decades, but he never seems to tire of them.

PopMatters · 2009-05-03

enjoyable 3.50

The novel is a lighter work compared to Harrison's more epic novels, but its prose is pure and spare. The story is a journey of self-discovery, filled with humor and wit.

This reviewer notes that 'The English Major' is a lighter work compared to Jim Harrison's more epic novels like 'Legends of the Fall' or 'True North.' However, they appreciate the novel's pure and spare prose, which makes it a enjoyable read. The story follows a man's journey of self-discovery, filled with humor and wit. While it may not have the epic sweep of Harrison's other works, it still captures the essence of his reflective and big-picture American style.

Quick quotes

The English Major is minor Jim Harrison, without the family epic sweep of Legends of the Fall or True North, but its prose is pure and spare and ...

The novel is a map of a man's journey into—and out of—himself, and it is vintage Harrison—reflective, big-picture American, and replete with wicked wit.

Although the two books share a distinctive melancholy, there's nothing repetitive about 'The English Major.' Harrison has been brooding over these themes for decades, but he never seems to tire of them.

The New York Times · Jennifer Egan · 2008-10-17

engaging 4.00

The novel revisits Harrison's familiar themes of travel, literature, food, and fishing, offering a reflective journey. The protagonist's adventure is both poignant and humorous, capturing the essence of a man's introspection.

Jennifer Egan dives into Jim Harrison's latest novel, highlighting its exploration of familiar themes like travel, literature, food, and fishing. The story follows a man's journey of self-discovery, which Egan finds both poignant and humorous. She appreciates the reflective nature of the narrative, noting how it captures the essence of a man's introspection. The novel's blend of melancholy and wit makes it a compelling read, even if it lacks the epic sweep of Harrison's other works.

Quick quotes

His new novel, 'The English Major,' revisits some of Harrison's longtime preoccupations: travel and literature, food and fishing; an engagement with the world that is both deeply felt and deeply funny.

The novel is a map of a man's journey into—and out of—himself, and it is vintage Harrison—reflective, big-picture American, and replete with wicked wit.

Although the two books share a distinctive melancholy, there's nothing repetitive about 'The English Major.' Harrison has been brooding over these themes for decades, but he never seems to tire of them.

Appears in Lists

10 Best Jim Harrison Books