Eugene Debs Hartke

Eugene Debs Hartke is the narrator and central character of the novel Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut.

He is a graduate of West Point, a veteran of the Vietnam War, a tenured college professor, a teacher at a correctional institute, and finally a prisoner, falsely accused of masterminding the largest prison break in American history. He is widely known as "The Preacher" for his masterful eloquence and his impeccable habit of never using blasphemy or profanity.

Taking careful account of his life, Hartke realizes he has killed as much as he has had sex. His employer, and almost a friend, is the prison warden Hiroshi Matsumoto.

He is named for one of Vonnegut's personal heroes, Eugene Debs.