Norwood is the first novel written by author Charles Portis. It was published in 1966 by Simon & Schuster. The book follows its namesake protagonist on a misadventurous road trip from his hometown of Ralph, Texas, to New York City and back. During the trip, Norwood is exposed to a comic array of personalities and lifestyles. The novel is a noteworthy example of Portis's particular skill rendering Southern dialect and conversation. Norwood is included in the Library of America of Portis' Collected Works. The novel was adapted for a 1970 film of the same title. Jack Haley, Jr. directed, and Glen Campbell and Kim Darby starred.

Characters

Some characters and related events are described, below, using in-universe tone.

Critical reception

Kirkus Reviews wrote that "Norwood is just simple enough to be believable and the story has just the right brand of humor." The New York Times called the book "delightfully original," writing that it "orchestrates some of the tinnier strains of today's America into a cool little fugue."