The book follows its namesake protagonist on a misadventurous road trip from his hometown of Ralph, Texas, to New York City and back.

Norwood is included in the Library of America of Portis' Collected Works.

Jack Haley, Jr. directed, and Glen Campbell and Kim Darby starred.

Kirkus Reviews wrote that "Norwood is just simple enough to be believable and the story has just the right brand of humor.

"[4] 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.