The Hair Of Harold Roux
by Thomas Williams
Award: National Book Winner 1975
Date Read: August 20, 2021
The Hair of Harold Roux is a story within a story and, at times, within another couple of stories. Occasionally, the stories would switch and I would struggle to recall the storyline I’m supposed to be following. Overall, however, this was an engaging and entertaining novel. Any deep thoughts or epiphanies gained? Not so much.
The two main stories regard a college student named Allard Benson and a college professor, Aaron Benham. Are they essentially the same person at different stages of their lives? If you ask me, I would say yes. Both ride motorcycles, both are vets, both have had first loves with the first name of M.
Within Allard’s story is where we meet Harold Roux, a fellow collegian who has prematurely gone bald at the age of 22. He hides his baldness under a toupee that everyone knows is a toupee. This hair piece becomes a part of Harold’s identity, making him a vulnerable target to bullies in the dorm. I had a hard time swallowing that bullies of this type still exist in their early 20s. In my experience, bullying tends to wane towards the tail end of high school as everyone is facing their own future in the “real world.” Maybe it was a part of the times then that this sort of bullshit still happened but I highly doubt it.
I was outraged by the two rapes committed by Allard. He has promised his virginal girlfriend to respect her choice to not “go all the way” and the minute he gets her in a bathing suit, he pulls the crotch piece to the side and goes for it. She says no the entire time. Not only was this painful to read but she then becomes his girlfriend and they do it all the time. I shudder at the authors interpretation of the no means yes trope.
And while he’s dating Mary, Naomi (his past lover and Mary’s roommate) is swimming with him and he essentially rapes her too. She even calls him out and says, “I haven’t been raped lately.” Instead of being outraged, she is compassionate towards him and tries to comfort Mary when she, of course, sees them in the pool. Is it that times have changed or were men just way more rapey back in the 70s? Either way, Allard’s behavior is abhorrent.
I’m somewhat shocked that this won the National Book Award. The writing was fine but not overwhelmingly gifted. The plot-line was somewhat jumbled and confusing. The behavior of just about everyone here was terrible with everyone a victim and victimizer. I’m left scratching my hair, thank goodness not a toupee (yet).
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