TOMBOLO

by Nicholas Fersen ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 18, 1954

Tombolo, a forest in Italy- near Pisa, which became the sanctuary for a band of derelicts and deserters of all nationalities and colors towards the end of World War II, determines the narrative here which presumably does not improve on the facts of its unhappy history. Among the outlawed and the outcast who found a refuge there were Kurt, a German officer whose arrogance had suffered no defeat; Roy, a big Negro whose size lent a special glory- particularly to Lucie, the Italian girl who had run away with him; Lucilla, who had come there to abort, and Rosa, her midwife, who stayed on to sell wine and women; Jimmie Johnson, also a Negro, who comes there because of Grazia. No Sherwood Forest, the solidarity at Tombolo thins, depravity and disintegration lead to violence which is the beginning of the end finally accomplished by outside intervention when troopers are sent to clean up the situation- with hand grenades.... The backwash of the war, these lives which are the victims of a social as well as military system prove no more than this and are unlikely to attract your sympathies. A conservative clientele will more certainly be alienated.

Pub Date: March 18, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1954

Categories: FICTION