THE HOURGLASS

by Edwin Gilbert ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

The ""Crisis Kids"" they labelled themselves, these young people caught in the backwash of depression, lack of jobs, no market for their artistic- or would be artistic-aspirations. Gilbert has set his story in a slum area below Washington Square, a tenement owned by a soft-hearted, sentimental Jew who thinks he may harbor yet another Dreiser or Millay -- and who backs down after flailing his penniless tenants with harsh words, and gives them another chance. Pooled resources, bathtub gin, loose morals but a certain kind of fire and gallantry keep them going:- Dickwilford, who was working on a novel; Ellen O'Conlon who wrote unsaleable poetry; Peter Anstead-Princeton and Far Hills rebel, who wanted to write for Broadway; Stirnberg, whose paintings nobody understood; Cy Samuet son, studying to be a doctor -- and Clair Chamblis, model, who wanted to be a decorator- but held herself severely aloof from what she considered the riffraff around her. Into this group came Gabe Marlo, student at law, who worked at anything to earn his way. It is his story- and the story of the others as they pulled out of the mire; it is his seemingly undying love for Clair- and its rude awakening. It is a tragedy of people caught in the trammels of uncertain standards, unwilling to accept and forgive beyond certain points, but rising to heights when the real challenge comes. It is a story of our times, much of it unpalatable, sordid --but Gilbert has something worth saying.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Lippincott

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1959

Categories: FICTION