num_pages: 330
description: James Alexander Thom, bestselling author of two magnificent historical novels, says about his modern novel, Staying Out of "Like my character, Scotty Montgomery, I grew up in the idyllic prewar Midwest, was a Marine, and later a journalist appalled by the apparent cheapness of life and the world's casual disregard for human suffering. Like my protagonist, I am unable to reconcile my country's two the citadel of humane idealism, and the leading world merchant of death-dealing weapons.  I hope by this novel to awaken our benumbed souls to the awful absurdities with which we live."
language: English
title: Staying Out of Hell
titlecomplete: Staying Out of Hell
ratings_count: 20
publisher: Ballantine Books