THE DELUGE

by Ian Niall ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 15, 1950

A lowering, gloomy regional novel set in a small English village, which gains momentum to a satisfying climax at the end. Everpresent in the minds of the villagers and particularly the occupants of Water Row is the proximity of that ""white elephant"", the Ling reservoir. In the flurry of rumors that the Ling wall is giving way, the homes on Water Row and the occupants of the local pub, the Black Bee, stand out in sharp relief. Introduced by the grim, bitter Joe Adams, keeper of the reservoir, as he views the village with satanic hate and disdain, the story follows the fortunes of Water Row. There is fat Maggie Snell, hostess at the Black Bee, savagely partial, drinking to fill the emptiness of her childless state, finally tamed by violence by her heretofore timorous husband; gentle Will Lane, blackmailed by ferrety ""Yank"" Cosh for an early hidden marriage; Jim Douglas, a weary, lonely failure, cursed with a violent marriage which he compares to ""hell yawning""; Mary Douglas who tries to escape her home; Old Mr. Dow who has visions; William Bradshed, the engineer with a jealous, stupid wife; genial Bill Norton and his happy brood; and other ""little"" people whose lives are behind them. When the wall does break -- and the tension here is at a high pitch -- it is the gentle, vital people who survive. Sustained in mood but with an unselective underplaying that does not take full advantage of the possibilities of character.

Pub Date: Jan. 15, 1950

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Duell, Sloan & Pearce

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1950

Categories: FICTION