THE PLACE OF JACKALS

by Ronald Hardy ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 3, 1954

The hopeless war in Indo-China and the fetid luxuriance of the jungle provides a deliberately appalling background for the spiritual conflict in which Roget, an Army Chaplain, is engaged. A mild young man, Roget is sent to the headquarters of the sector commanded by Colonel Lejeune, and after the horror and discomfort of his journey, he is met by the intellectual contempt of Lejeune and the mockery of his officer, Marignan, who find that ""God and war are incompatible"". His own personal fear, under fire, when he leaves a man to die alone, only increase Lejeune's derision- and his own sense of shame. The almost successful attempt by Rose, a missionary's sluttish wife, to seduce him, confirms again his own uselessness and unworthiness. But finally, in the long jungle retreat, during which Marignan is wounded and Roget is forced out of his fear and futility to go to him, Roget achieves his hardwon moment of grace.... For the reader too it may be hardwon- since the nightmare atmosphere of a savage war and loathsome circumstances is exaggerated and perhaps exploited to provide a contrast for the final hour of salvation. Limited.

Pub Date: March 3, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1954

Categories: FICTION