The Wilmington morning star., 1947-11-30
Mr.. Spearman',
| Lantern
BY WALTER spEARM.x

. NOV 29~A,
a crusading newspaper sd;,' ~
Holding Carter Won the pu,,, 'T,'.'
er Prize in l946 for ~. '''''
torials he wrote in his n,. .'l'
the Delta Demoscrst Linz. P'''
Greenville, Miss.
AS author.
the new novel, Flood Ccs,,r
tlrst-rate story of MESsis,
high waters and low poIj,;os IjSs'p9L
stands an excellent cban"s s' ne
winning the l948 PulitzeT 'T D.. At
for the best novel of tho Nv. !1'
The book is published bv p's. ss'
hart and Company, 278 ''.s' .s
$2.75). 80 N
Torrential spring rains b,u
threatened to break the Mi,,;'
sippi levees at Timberlaka ''.,'
Army Engineer Kent Vilvar3
trying desperately to control a. N
waters, with the aid of c0nr.' r %s
labor and local farmers. AIs0 '%,
Timberlake comes United Y St,.., "
Senator Cleve PikeStaff, hst. ,'
mongering ''redneck" poEtic;',
of the Rankin and Bilbo IL >'4'' ,a
see his daughter Sudie and ',
express political sympathy to'
the flood victims. In a houssbo.,
on the rising waters is Shslda,
Parr, professor of socjoIosD
from the University of Nor,
Carolina gathering material fl,
a book, and his daughter, Bet,
any. And among the convir,
working on the levee is Corsr
Ryrum, killer who wants +. |
blackm mail his W Y 10 freedom
with what he knows on CleT.
Pikestaft
Facing the possibility Of dele,.
by the young veteran runnjn
against him for the Sens.
Cleve Pikestaff was determine3
to whip up enthusiasm, He knew
the prejudices of his voters, both
planters and tenant farmer
and he figured a good red
scare" would sweep him ba,
into office. His constituents fes.
ed the threat of ideas Just a /
they feared the threat Of rive |
waters-and both came from IN i
outside. AS the waters rose
the Mississippi so did the i'd l
of hate and fear and prelude /
stirred up by the scheming Pike /
staff. Innocent victims Of th 4
storm are Professor Pam and
Bethany-victims because Sem. /
tor Pikestaff must have a whip |
ping boy to rouse the natNa
and also because Sudie Pike
staff is wildly jealous Of Kn Il
Wizards attentions to Bethal
Author Carriers story is ta'
paced and exciting, his then
significant and timely, His wit
ing style is compact and at L,
same time colorful. Best Of al
his characters are completed
believable and pulsing with LITE
His Senator Pikestaft is rant
ing, unscrupulous, Shrewd and
obnoxious old lecher but 50 vel
drawn that you can readily @[
why he appeals to the voters
Sudie Pikestaff, half seX-craZH
slut and half ambitious woul&a|
lady, is thoroughly convincing
her role OF trouble-naht
Treacherous Corey Byrum and
easy going, ignorant GeoEgl
Mae Collins are credible mI
whites - and the PARIS are
very attractive family, FN'i
Crest" stands high in any M
sons list of novels.
"RED WINE FIRST"
Nedra Tyres Red WnI
First" is remarkable bo9I
Simon and Schuster, New IGll
2O8 PIP. $3.50 The title is IIS'I
Sean O'Casey: "Red Wine tNt
Jessie, to the passion and y
power and the pain OF llte' NJ
then a drink of white wine 'onI
melody that is in them al
Nedra Tyre is a social WORKER
Atlanta, Ga, has her M. A ny
Emory University and mas wi
led at the Richmond ocnoa
Social Work. Her book has
chapters, each an autoblogr'P
cal account Of some man
woman Tivin' offa relief
The speech of the charachI
is faithfully Transcribed
brings them fully TO llte-oal
times alarmingly or appalL..,sI
for these are human oelaIsI
and they are full OF Vllga.f
obscenity, hilarity, patnoS .g,I n3'
ity, ignorance, pride, prela-s, nl'ls,
vindictiveness-or, as llle '' vi
,,as passion and the power and
pain of life" There is tns M
man man who says: you could ,a..5 u \
the horns off a billy g0a'
there is the impoverished 1'a, El@
whose prying neighoorS MI
the gunner" because =,
thought h er underwear " VTT,gt
line looked too expensive ID
is Myrtle who slasnsp sopn+,,I
sisters throat with a 0uI ,..I
knife and Miz? Harrison. 1, !Tl !,rl
husband left her win va o r-I
children. There's the II}sr snd }
took took part PAL. in lynchi43s '1s 1s.
old man who marrled ;, mt
minded girl. Red Wine II
pope Nine'A