LAND I HAVE CHOSEN

by Ellin Berlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 1944

The wife of Irving Berlin is speaking from inside knowledge when she writes of the Southampton merry-go-round, of love between a spoiled darling of the rich -- and a man from another sort of background. Beyond that, her Lisa Blessing and her Anne Brooke, the two women ""leads"" in her story, bear no remote resemblance either in personality or in life pattern to her own story. Lisa was a German-born actress who had found success in America, but whose heart was still in Germany, with its seemingly bright hopes of the late twenties. She goes back -- to Germany and to Frans, and finds both changed....Anne Brooke thought she was in love with Marco, mystery Italian count, but when she discovered the trick that was played on them both, she turned back to her childhood admirer, Paul Craven, whose wealth offered security and who spoke her language. Together they seek the playgrounds of both worlds, the superficial gaieties of those whose emotions are cushioned in wealth, whose brains and ideals are both at low level. With the crash, there's some puss-in-the-corner business, ragged edge of infidelities, glib acceptance of pat opinions, the surface patter of the early thirties. The book is overlong -- repetitious -- it merited a careful blue-pencilling to tighten matter and manner. As it stands, it suggests a rather second rate imitation of the Lanny Budd tetralogy. Rentals chiefly. Plus a certain snob appeal.

Pub Date: June 16, 1944

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday, Doran

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1944

Categories: FICTION