A Frolic of His Own
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
A Frolic of His Own is a novel authored by William Gaddis and issued by Poseidon Press in 1994. This work represents his fourth and last novel published during his lifetime, earning him his second U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.
Title
The name of the novel is inspired by a court ruling on vicarious liability found in Joel v. Morison.
Plot
Following a collision involving an autonomous vehicle he unintentionally activated, Oscar Crease is admitted to the hospital. His stepsister Christina and her attorney spouse Harry Lutz bring him a legal memorandum composed by Oscar's father, who serves as a circuit judge, regarding Szyrk v. the Village of Tatamount et al., a lawsuit centered on a dog confined within a steel sculpture where the artist secured an injunction to stop its destruction.
During his convalescence in the Hamptons, Oscar initiates legal proceedings against film producer Constantine Kiester and his associates, accusing them of infringing the copyright of his unpublished play. Both the play and the movie portray a Civil War incident involving Oscar’s grandfather hiring substitutes to fight on opposite sides, who ultimately kill each other at Antietam.
Oscar retains attorney Harold Basie and submits excerpts of his script to highlight resemblances despite never having viewed the film. Basie agrees to represent him, while the defendants are defended by Harry Lutz's law firm. After depositions and examinations, Oscar declines a settlement offer and advances to trial but suffers defeat, leading to an appeal.
With the support of Christina and his partner Lily, Oscar engages in detailed discussions about his play with Jawaharlal Madhar Pai ("Jerry"), the lawyer who conducted his deposition. On appeal, Oscar prevails against the filmmakers and expects substantial financial rewards. His father, a judge who contributed to a legal brief, passes away before Oscar can express gratitude; afterward, his clerk pays a visit.
Harry's health deteriorates due to stress and substance misuse, culminating in his death. Christina anticipates receiving his life insurance benefits but finds that Harry's firm is named as beneficiary. Oscar discovers that "creative accounting" applied to the successful film reports a loss, negating potential profits. Their father's estate is burdened with significant debts, leaving only their residence unencumbered. Meanwhile, Oscar increasingly exhibits childlike behavior.