TO LOVE AND TO DREAM

by Elizabeth Nell Dubus ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 20, 1986

This picks up the story of the tangled fortunes of two Louisiana families begun in Cajun (1983) and Where Love Rules (1985), and spins it out effectively. At the close of Where Love Rules, the Langlinais and Lauvidais clans were at last united with the marriage of Caroline and Beau, an old-style Southern Democrat and lawyer/politician, who passed to his eldest son, Skye, the sense of responsibility that goes along with wealth and power. Here, Skye dons Bean's mantle, flies WW II bombing raids, escapes from a German POW camp, marches home, sets up shop in his father's law office, and champions a black man accused of rape and murder. His sister, Caro, drops out of the fancy Newcomb College for women when war is declared to take a turn as ""Rosie the Riveter,"" foils an espionage caper involving her brother (which, lamentably, the author never fully explains), and finally makes her mark as a painter in the postwar years. Both siblings find suitable spouses after several false starts--though, considering all that the Jewish doctor, David Selbin, puts Caro through before he proposes, the reader's not sure that Caro should accept him. Certain issues that come between couples here seem awfully modern--especially that of careers for women--but, still, there's entertainment here for saga readers, and the portrait of the South during the War has special appeal.

Pub Date: Oct. 20, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION