Hero

by Frederick Dillen

Surrounded by an insolent kitchen crew, hard-nosed bosses, and demanding diners, a lonely loser, sarcastically nicknamed "hero," works as a waiter in an urban restaurant--until the time comes for him to live up to his name. IP.

130 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 1955

About the author

Frederick Dillen is an award-winning author whose short fiction has appeared in literary quarterlies and Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards. His first novel, Hero, was named Best First Novel of 1994 by the Dictionary of Literary Biography. His second novel, Fool, was honored by Nancy Pearl as a Book Lust Rediscoveries selection in 2012. Dillen and his wife, Leslie, are parents of two grown daughters and live in New Mexico.

Reviews

[Kate A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an all time favorite for me. I both laugh and cry when I read it and if you can get your hands on it I would do so immediately.

[Andrew Shutes-David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember, but I found a bookmark in the book with the following message written in all uppercase letters:

THOU ART NOT WHAT I AM

[Gilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written book about what it means to be a dry drunk. The last few chapters are labored, but the rest is delicate and empathic.