ISMO

by John Verney ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 6, 1967

What have we here--an incredibly involved mystery? a philosophical manifesto? a hall of mirrors, reflecting the inconsistency, the inconstancy of good and bad? Observing, occasionally participants, are February Callender, more baffled than in her earlier involvements, her younger sister Gail, a charming idealist, their older brother Friday, ""an eager Rupert Brooke-ish sort of young man."" Around them swirls a fantastic set of characters who are forever changing identity as they tumble over each other from Yorkshire to Florence, recherche references to Simone Martini and Jean-Paul Sartre, and ismo--""a new movement...a new technique of cooperating...the potential conscience and sense of humor for the whole world."" Ismo gives its adherents a secret language, a secret sign, a sense of shared power, an opportunity for harrying pomposity, for challenging tyranny--and it may be turned on its own tail. The super-plot involves three versions of a famous painting--which is authentic?--and the use made of ismo to spirit them across Europe. But the grand ironic achievement of ismo is the affair of President de Gaulle's trousers.... There are parts here for Margaret Rutherford and Alec Guiness and especially for Peter Sellers (who is invoked appropriately). This literate imbroglio is Older than it looks, is a very special sip of international expresso, is a puzzlement for a purpose. In the words of the most enigmatic conspirator: ""What is it, to understand? To enjoy is more important.

Pub Date: March 6, 1967

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Holt, Rinehart & Winston

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1967

Categories: FICTION