THE CORRIDOR

by Edmund Fuller ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Mr. Fuller, as a critic, has imposed some rather arbitrary Christian-moralist constraints on the novel in two recent books on American fiction today. As a teacher at the Kent School, he has probably verbally rapped the knuckles of some of his students for the use of cliches and recurrent words, a failing of his own. As a lecturer-book reviewer he enjoys a certain professional immunity. And as a man he has written what is primarily a woman's novel. With this diversity of opening leads, and temptations, to get down to the story itself- it deals with a life or death situation and the vigil of Malcolm Adamson, also a teacher, at the bedside of his wife after the necessary surgical termination of a fourth, unwanted pregnancy (a mother lode of guilt to come- for both). Alone with his thoughts, he reviews the intimacies of the life they have shared and their communion of interests; he also talks it out and through with a priest and a doctor; and he attempts to probe intensively the ""mystery"" of ""human relationships"" (there are even ""mystic"" sleeping pills) which need ultimate guidance from a higher authority. Mr. Fuller establishes no firm Christian ethic here but he does tell his story with a fair amount of obstetrical detail (women will like that), with a certain emotional upsurge and an unobtrusive inspirational uplift. The surroundings and characters are pleasant and a middle class, middle bracket, middle years audience can be assumed. It's certainly very easy to read.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1963

Categories: FICTION