WATCHMAN

by Davis Grubb ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 6, 1960

For the many who may well remember The Night of the Hunter there may be certain points of comparison with this new book; the apocalyptic tenor; the desolate to spectral southern (West Virginia) setting; the essentially melodramatic nature of the narrative. But whereas the earlier book used a strong, and strongly susceptible situation, it is hard to find its parallel here and Davis Grubb, always a man for loose words, now exercises no discipline on a prose which is always tumid (""and what pearled eyes of fumed insubstance watch"") and sometimes rabid (""slaughtered, mad girl-child whose blood, in menstrual premonition, already seedling, wombs...."") Weeded out, the story concerns Luther Alt, the Sheriff and executioner of Mound County, and his two daughters; Cristi, who is believed to be a wanton, and Jill who is pure, only because of early scars (she was raped at four) and continuing fears. Several tragedies take their bloodstained course; Cole, who had loved Jill, is killed, and Jason, whom Cristi loves, and who disregards her warnings, abandons her for Jill and attempts to take Cole's place. The identity of the killer remains unrevealed and unavenged- until finally the Sheriff stalks across the scene, cradling the body of his dead daughter in his arms, walks to the electric chair (where he would willingly have burned for her) and dies (his heart)..... Hard to take and impossible to take seriously- unless it might be in distaste.

Pub Date: March 6, 1960

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1960

Categories: FICTION