Evening star., 1946-06-30
Men Who Sought
Detachment
From War
COMPANIONS OF THE
LEFT HAND

By George Tabor. (Houghton- =
Mi61in; s2.75J
George Tabori, the Hungarian
novelist whose second book this is
to be published in this country,
seems to have a decided preoccupa-
ton with the state of mind of the
intellectual who stood aloof during
the recent war, forbearing to take
sides and telling himself that the
horrible shambles was merely hu-
manity being human. In his earlier
novel, Beneath the Stone" he
dealt with a scholar who hid away
in cellar concerned only with his
own protection until circumstances
dragged him into active participa-
ton. In the present book he takes
up the somewhat similar case of a
famous Hungarian playwright whose
one concern is to find his usual COM
forts in territory where he shall be
confronted by the fewest possible
reminders of the war. Like the
scholar, the playwright is presently
forced to see war at his doorstep
and, like the scholar, he feels some
emotion for the victims. But with
him habit is too strong and he re-
fuses to be involved. He perishes
but remains self-interested in his
conduct to his death.
To the reader, however, the center
of Mr.. Tabori's work will not be
Stefan Farkas, but San Fernando,
the little Italian seaside resort where
Farkas is trying to escape from the
war. San Fernando is Italy, and
certain other European countries,
in miniature. 1t exists as a feudal
domain, its wealth divided between
the landowner, Don Teoflio and the
ancient local abbey. The general
population, the peasants and fisher
men, live in ignorance, dirt, hunger
and disease, as they have from time
tmmemorial. When word reaches
the town that the Anglo American
forces have conquered the Fascist
army, the people organize a fiesta.
They think that the conquerors will
come as their friends.
A local situation, which might
have occurred at any time irrespec-
tive of the war, however, arouses the
feudal proprietors against their re-
tainers-12 WasherWomen who work
in the basement of the abbey for
slave wages have struck on being
denied their usual coffee. In fear
that the strike will be the harbinger
OF bolshevlsm, the authorities send
word to the Germans, who are much
nearer than the Anglo Americans.
And the Germans, though in retreat,
take time to come and machine
gun the village square.
Farkas watches the situation de-
velop-he hears about the washer
women, he knows of the corruption
of the local police, he has no illu-
sions whatever about the virtue of
the authorities. But, from lifelong
habit, he remains detached. He is
sorry for the suffering and death
but to him 1t is part of long per-
spectlve in which suffering and
death are the main ingredients.
Europe is always revolving against
oppresSors, he reflects, and the re-
Volters always lose the fight. So he
dubs them companions of the left
hand" phrase which does not
come out of modern political think
ing but from the Koran where it is
written that the companions of the
left hand shall dwell amidst
burning winds, and scalding water,
under the shade of black smoke,
neither cool nor agreeable"
The novel is reflective in tone and
slngularly successful in presenting
its point of view.