THREE FROM THE STATES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 737, 28 August 1953, Page 13

THREE FROM THE STATES

THE LAND THAT TOUCHES MINE, by John Santord; Jonathan Cape. English price, 12/6. MRS, HULETT: LOVE IN OUR TIME, by Bertram Bloch; Victor \ Gollancz. English price, 12/6. BREAD FROM HEAVEN, by Henrietta »Buckmaster; Victor Gollancz, English price, 12/6. ‘| HE ethical values of the "American Way of Life" are, not surprisingly, attracting the critical attention of serious young American writers. The Land That Touches Mine is the tragedy of a modern Ishmael, stripped’ of illusions without the saving grace of an ideal, self-condemned by an_ overwhelming sense of guilt in which his own sins (we take up his story shortly after he deserts from the Army) are identified with those of an expanding capitalist society. Mr. Sanford writes with brittle, bitter intensity and has a fine flair for pungent phrases ("Fresh sweat bled from him as if by concussion, and thumbs _ behind his eyeballs pressed them outward like dents in a hat’). He handles the intermittent flash-backs skilfully, and without’ impairing the almost painful suspense. But as an indictment, the novel loses force through the exaggerated self-pity and blurred outline of its principal character. In Mrs. Hulett: Love in Our Time, the Story Editor of Twentieth CenturyFox has written a book as self-assured -and as evanescent-as one of his Company’s Grade A films. Starring beautiful Emmy Hulett as the woman forced to choose between power and love; Jim Hulett, whose political career depends. on the threads which are plucked by his wife; shrewd, © tolerant Sam Thomas, lover of stars and producer of hits; and likeable, 'libidinous Lily Grainger, Broadway’s gift to .the Theatre. Wait for it at your_neighbourhood cinema, Bread from Heaven is firmly planted in the main stream (or should one say Main Street?) of the traditional American small ‘town novel, with two agonised young Czech refugees demonstrating for the umpteenth time that love casts out intolerance in the end. Miss Buckmaster (continued on next page) |

BOOKS (continued trom previous page)

is a competent, popular novelist who ‘apparently sees no reason to bite the hand that feeds her by doing anything

unexpected.

H.S.

W.