A PLACE CALLED ESTHERVILLE

by Erskine Caldwell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 7, 1949

Traditional Caldwell animated by considerable action and-concomitantly- sex, this is again concerned with the problem of the Negro in the South. This time it's Estherville where the white people, whether housewives, policemen or salesmen, make up for the most part an horrendous, satanic group intent on twisting and misshaping the lives of the Negroes. Ganus Bazemore, an eighteen year old Negro, loses a good job in a kind household because of the bullying tactics of a group of white boys, gets involved with a lonely white woman while delivering groceries, and finally ends up hatcheted because of another psychopathic white woman. Ganus' sister, Kathy-anne, also enmeshed in this insidious web, is forced to leave her good job because her master rapes her, leaves a second job because they offer her old clothes instead of money, is undressed in an empty garage by some white adolescents, and is raped by some friends of the town's leading salesmen. Although rather sketchy as to characterisation, this is grim, terse story telling that pulls out some important prejudice points and lines them up right straight in front of you. Unsavory for Public Libraries.

Pub Date: Sept. 7, 1949

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Duell, Sloan & Pearce

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1949

Categories: FICTION