Stoner

At the end of the spring semester in 1924, Archer Sloane dies of heart complications. After the onset of the Great War, Sloane aged rapidly and seemed to give up on life all together in his final years. Sloane’s death means the English department is down a member. As such, Finch conducts a search and eventually hires a man named Hollis Lomax. When the new semester arrives, Lomax is nowhere to be found. Though he has supposedly arrived in Columbia, no one sees him or talks to him leading up to the semester.

Finally, Lomax appears during the first English faculty meeting of the semester. Lomax—who is handsome—has a hunchback, a fact that distracts everyone during the meeting, though they are all polite. At the end of the meeting, everyone introduces themselves to Lomax and welcomes him to the department, including Stoner. Lomax meets their politeness with a cool and detached irony, as if he does not want to make friends with anyone.

Indeed, as the semester gets going, Lomax stays away from the rest of the department. Although he is invited, he never attends any social gatherings and barely makes his presence known. However, Lomax’s students seem to like him and, for that reason, he becomes a well-respected member of the program. Stoner likes Lomax because Lomax reminds him of Masters, and he wishes the two of them could become friends. However, Lomax treats Stoner coldly, and Stoner is too passive to pursue a friendship. Despite the failures of his social life, Stoner’s academic career is going quite well. In the year Lomax joins the department, Stoner finally publishes his first book. As a result, the department grants him tenure, which comes with a pay increase.

Meanwhile, without telling Stoner, Edith asks her father for a loan while visiting him in St. Louis. When Edith returns, she tells Stoner that she asked for the loan so they could buy a house. Stoner argues with Edith because he does not think they can afford to pay her father back. Even with his promotion, half of his money would go toward the house, which he feels is unsustainable in the long run. However, Edith insists it is necessary and argues it will be better for their family. Ultimately, Stoner caves, and they purchase a reasonable house near the university.

After buying the house, Edith works hard to turn it into a respectable domestic space. She even suggests throwing a dinner party and inviting Stoner’s colleagues. Edith’s change of mood pleases Stoner and thinks the party is a great idea. Leading up to the party, Edith spends all of her spare time cleaning the house and getting it ready. She works so hard that on the day of the party she is burned out. Stoner worries that she will not be able to handle the party itself, but Edith manages to pull herself together and ends up being a satisfactory host. 

Surprisingly, Lomax decides to attend the party and stays long after everyone else leaves. Lomax and Stoner stay up late into the night drinking and discussing their shared love of literature. Stoner feels a genuine kinship with Lomax and hopes that this is the start of an enduring friendship. Before departing, Lomax kisses Edith on the lips and thanks her for the party. However, despite his behavior at the party, Lomax goes back to his cold and distant self the next time Stoner sees him. In fact, if anything, Stoner feels like Lomax treats him worse following the party.