Published in “The Swinging 60s” 1967 this novel is set in a boarding school in rural Virginia. The paperback cover makes it look quite a bit more like a sex romp novel than is actually is. It has one of the fine cover paintings that employed skilled figurative artists back then. It pictures a nicely built shirtless man, Fistfull-of-Eastwood cheroot in his mouth, guitar sling over his back, with two alluring leggy young women holding him in fond embrace.
OK, nice come on, sold. This could be fun junk.
The novel is a good deal deeper than this cover. It starts with the fall term at the school. Three girl dorm roommates are introduced. Two were roommates before another girl was assigned to room as the third. One of the originals, Cecily, gives the new roomy trouble all through the novel. None of these characters is a main character and none of them are particularly appealing in a way designed to have the reader pulling for them. There is no real hero, main character, in the novel. They are all somewhat flawed. This is a good thing that brings the story more into reality than a hero would.
A couple of school staff authority figures are involved. They meet with minor snotty attitude level rebellion from the girls.
Enter William Sweet, guitar, cheroot, just like the cover. He’s been hired as a shop teacher. The place is really college prep, but the powers that be have been persuaded that it will be helpful to the students to learn to work with their hands some from a handsome man. (Geez! Sorry.). Will comes on strong with a charismatic southern style and a folk song on his lips along with the little cigar. He is looked upon by the reader, and soon positions himself, as a friendly good guy, a breath of natural fresh air to the general student body, particularly the boys and Cecily in the first scene is shown to be waiting for something sensual and untamed to liven up the stiff academic institution. Right away Will is put in the position of faculty resident in the boys dorm and comes on all buddy-buddy.
What unfolds is more than an escapist softcore pop romance novel. The entertaining story is really a study of a smooth talking BS narcissist, his needs, and maneuvers to take over by seduction, sexual and emotional, of the student body and the faculty. He has the radar of a narcissist who can see at a distance who of these teens needs a daddy or a mentor. He is not brutal, but has the skill and patience to groom, to gain trust, always with his good cheer, jokes, and ready steady grin.
The one boy, Bob Duro, does gain the reader's sympathy, he is a city kid from the Bronx there on an athletic scholarship, but he is also an outstanding student. He is in love and attached to one of the girls and wants to bring her along to the big time college next year. His scholarship to the college is being earned by hard study and discipline. Early on Will gives him the key to the school shop with a winking bro suggestion that he can bring his girlfriend there for their private moments. Will betrays the boy. who finally discovers that he has taken the girl to Norfolk for a not yet legally premitted abortion. The aborted fetius is the product of Will’s sex with the girl. Bob confronts Will but loses out totally and completely, his relationship and dreams so destroyed that he gives his future up and joins the Coast Guard.
Will gently but persistently seduces a teacher whose heart is set in the tradition of virginity until marriage. He is taking advantage of the loneliness he had detected in her.
He succeeds in solidifying a position of prominence and smiling good guy domination by the end of the school year. Will becomes more arrogant and pleased with himself and his mastery of the place.
Is there a comeuppance? The finale is swift, engrossing, and beautifully executed. Cecily is involved, finally outraged by Will. What goes on is wrong, yet totally justifiable in the situation.
This is a very enjoyable reading experience dealing with subjects, personalities that are familiar to most of us. Perhaps the reader can find themselves depicted within. These narcissistic personalities are all around us, and unfortunately, regularly in the news. They, like Will, position themselves to become the leader who knows how to appeal to those with the need to follow. These are that kind of attitudes that are being finally called out in the #metoo movement as the games and power needs of some men of prominence are exposed for the #meaboveallothers ruthless criminals they are behind the mask of the charming big leader/daddy.
Their needs to control make them pathetic vampires at the core.
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