Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-11
By CARTER BROOKE JONES
Rack Critic of The star

II rev were SIanQOuLS ana
perhaps not one presses for
inclusion in such overworked
categories as masterpiece or
classic. it may be pointed out
that books of this stature do
not often appear.
The fall, always the pub
fishers busiest season, gave
strong indications that the
years end would establish a
record for the number of books
turned out in any postwar
year.
For October alone there were
249 novels, as compared with
2O1 the previous October, the
trade magazine. Publishers
Weekly, reports. And chill
dren's titles tnever neglected
in The Starr were up from 2l7
to 271. The 10-month total for
fiction and juvenile books rose
from 10,100 in 1854 to l0,287
in 1855.
NonfictiOn Leaders
Perhaps nonfiction Jagged
behind in quantity this year.
though in many bookstores
over the country it outsold
fiction.
Former President Truman
stirred wide interest and no
little controversy with the first
volume of his memoirs, YEAR
OF DECISIONS Doubleday;
So. Not Unexpectedly, the
book hit the best-seller lists
and stayed there.
John Gunther's INSIDE Az
RIGA Harper; So is a re-
markable achievement. 1t COM
presses into single volume at
least a summary of all the d.
verse, seething elements, the
transitional factors, that make
the continent of prime inter-
est to the world today.
Anne Morrow Llndbergh
published a beautiful book.
GIFT FROM THE SEA Pan
theon; $2.75). the expression
Of a simple yet profound phi
losophy of everyday living. Her
message appealed to a great
number of readers.
diversified Novels
The most ambitious novels
were overlong and usually
observation-disclosures at mas
terry through sheer accumula-
ton of words.
The one that came nearest
to its purpose. it seems to me,
was ANDERSONVILLE by
Mackinlay Kantor World;
So. This novel. though it has
too many characters and cpl
sodes. too many pages, yet
produces a memorable effect.
Mr.. Kantor depicts in heart
breaking detail the notorious
prisoner of war stockade
maintained by the Confed-
crates in Central Georgia.
Another massive try. and one
that succeeded in large meas
ure despite its faults, is Robert
Ruark's novel Of the Mau Maui
troubles in Africa-SOME-
THING OF VALUE Double
day; So. This book has had
a divided reception. Many
object to its revolving details.
but you can't describe brutality
in pretty terms. and. imperfect
as the narrative is technically,
its net effect, in my opinion,
is powerful.
Study of Slavery
Robert Penn Warren's BAND
OF ANGELS. Random House:
$685. is fairly long, too. but
does not seem overwritten. 1t
is, In fact, written with artis-
try. This is the story of a cul-
tured girl who discovers at her
fathers death that she is half
Negro. The period is just be-
fore the Civil War. and she is
sold into slavery. Her adven-
lures are worth following.
The years best novel Of the
contemporary American scene
is. in my judgment, John
OHara's TEN NORTH FRED
ERICK random House;
1885,. This is not to imply
that 1t is a novel without flaws.
But Mr.. O'Hara has succeeded
admirably in presenting two
generations Of a family in a
small city, rounding out story
from the 1905 to 1915. The
chief character, though. is Of
our generation. a lawyer born
to wealth and position. and
his is a first-rate portrait. Mr..
OHara's most mature work is
in this novel. He has not
abandoned his embarrassing
forays into his characters most
intimate moments, but he has
curbed these exposures.
Overlooked Novels
THE NIGHT OF TIME, by
Rene Fulop-Miller tBobbs-
Merrill. S3.75) is a timeless
conception of war. 1t is war
as seen by the humber
soldiers. Their nationality is
not mentioned, nor is the
enemy's; it is simply war,
muddy, bloody, filled with fu-
tile horror. 1t might. like THE
Red Badge of Courage" have
been any war, except perhaps
the atomic war of the future.
If you are interested in a de-
tached study of war over
towering in its implications,
ask your bookseller to dig out
1.-THE Night of Time from
whatever remote shelf a ma
jority of incredibly unap-
preciative reviews may have
caused him to consign it.