Sometimes a Great Notion

Sometimes a Great Notion
First edition
AuthorKen Kesey
LanguageEnglish
PublisherViking Press
Publication date
July 27, 1964
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardback and Paperback)
Pages715
OCLC71045661
813/.54 22
LC ClassPS3561.E667 S6 2006

Sometimes a Great Notion is the second novel by American author Ken Kesey, published in 1964. While One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) is more famous, many critics consider Sometimes a Great Notion Kesey's magnum opus.[1] The story involves an Oregon family of gyppo loggers who cut trees for a local mill in opposition to unionized workers who are on strike.

Kesey took the title from the song "Goodnight, Irene", popularized by Lead Belly.

Sometimes I lives in the country
Sometimes I lives in the town
Sometimes I haves a great notion
To jump into the river an' drown [2]

  1. ^ Bowden 2006, p. xv.
  2. ^ Price, Carter (April 1962). "Leadbelly – A Fighting, Wenching, Singing Man". Negro Digest. XI (6): 20.