THE LAST BELIEVERS

by David Karp ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 7, 1964

David Karp's novels (One; The Day of the Monkey; Leave Mc Alone; etc.) all have dealt, more or less, with certain ideological issues of the times and this one talks out, at rather great length, the problem of protest which each younger generation exercises (and exercises) as its fashion. Arthur Cameron (nee Leitz), a highly successful playwright of middle years, has a heart attack which coincides with his son's decision to give up his citizenship as an anti-bomb manifesto. To deter him, Arthur tells the boy own story and it is an extensive retrospective of his youth when he joined the Communist Party in the '20's and was part of its fringe activates (the John Reed Club, the New Masses, etc.). The book, which does not have too much personal interest (Cameron's tremendous success with a first play; his marriage; children) does trace the whole history of Communism in America, the redbaiting and blacklisting (particularly in Hollywood), and Arthur's apostasy long before he came to the realization that gullibility is the greatest sin.... All of this is highly articulate and it has a certain gritty integrity and kosher warmth.

Pub Date: Oct. 7, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt, Brace & World

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1964

Categories: FICTION