Plumb comprises the reminiscences of one George Plumb, covering the first half of the 20th century. He starts out as a clergyman but his strict, even fanatical, adherence to his own idiosyncratic principles gets him into trouble with his church. Meanwhile he marries and has 12 children.
Plumb is totally self-absorbed, self-important and dogmatic. He seems happy enough to put his large family through upheavals and difficult times, just so he can devote himself to his “important work” of thinking, writing and lecturing. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t really get along with his many children. As they grow up and live their own lives, their interactions with him are generally more or less painful for them and Plumb. And me.
After I read the book, I found out that Plumb is based on the author’s own grandfather. I hope the real Plumb was a nicer person than the one portrayed in this novel.