A native of Birmingham, AL exiles himself from his hometown. His father is a member of the KKK, his mother died giving birth to him, and he is saddened/sickened by the violence associated with the Civil Rights struggle. He supports himself by selling Romanian rugs (imitation of Persian rugs at third of the price) and sex toys. The whole novel is in the form of letters he writes to a friend who collects first day...

A native of Birmingham, AL exiles himself from his hometown. His father is a member of the KKK, his mother died giving birth to him, and he is saddened/sickened by the violence associated with the Civil Rights struggle. He supports himself by selling Romanian rugs (imitation of Persian rugs at third of the price) and sex toys. The whole novel is in the form of letters he writes to a friend who collects first day of issue envelopes/stamps. The exile continues until 1971, when, as the title indicates, he returns to Birmingham somewhat that worse for wear.