Patrick deWitt's Dodge City Explores 1960s Draft Dodging

Patrick deWitt's novel "Dodge City" chronicles the 1960s journey of Leland "Lee" Clarke, a UCLA dropout who attempts to evade the Vietnam War draft. The narrative begins with Lee receiving his draft notice, a consequence of assaulting a fellow student. This act of violence, described by his father as a "one-punch wonder," leads to the revocation of his academic deferment. Lee does not identify as a conscientious objector, viewing that as another form of heroism, but he is determined to avoid military service in Vietnam. His chosen method of evasion is to flee to Canada, a decision that sets him on a cross-country road trip. The novel contrasts this era with the present, noting that expulsion from college carried less financial weight for students in the 1960s compared to the significant debt many face today. DeWitt, known for his 2011 Booker-shortlisted western "The Sisters Brothers," applies his literary style to the American road novel genre. While the premise of a cross-country journey undertaken by a young man with a bag of amphetamines might suggest a comparison to films like "Easy Rider," deWitt's approach diverges significantly. The novel explores themes of youth, rebellion, and the critique of heroic myths, positioning Lee's journey as a personal act of defiance against a perceived national imperative. The story delves into Lee's internal conflict and his philosophical stance against what he views as the "entire exercise" of war. His expulsion from UCLA, a prestigious public research university founded in 1919, marks a turning point, forcing him to confront his future outside the academic system. The novel's setting in the 1960s places it within a specific historical context of social upheaval, anti-war sentiment, and counterculture movements that influenced American literature and film. "Dodge City" is presented as a work that honors the tradition of the road novel while infusing it with deWitt's characteristic blend of dark humor and literary artifice. The narrative promises a journey that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, examining the motivations and consequences of a young man's decision to reject the path laid out for him by society and government. The comparison to films is noted, but the author's unique narrative voice and thematic depth are highlighted as distinguishing factors.