THE HUSBAND

by Sol. Stein ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 6, 1968

Mr. Stein has written what may seem a contradiction to begin with--a woman's novel on a man's terms and in the language of the smoker. And probably more for all men who have been on the right or the wrong side of an affair, proving Morton Hunt's contention that in America, where marriages are made for love, divorces are more frequent in the determination not to do without it. This is the objective of the husband here, Peter Carmody, an attractive man of forty, ""creative director"" of an advertising firm, who now finds that his wife Rose never grew up--only older--and that his marriage is utter boredom. Not so his affair with younger Elizabeth who, before he's through (losing his home, half of his money, his job, and worst of all, his children) will be able to make him realize that the only valid and enduring relationship can be between a man and a woman. Along with a great many unsavory apercus (the other man in the agency is a voyeur; there's a spouse-swapping attempt; etc., etc.) Peter still regrets that you can't divorce a wife without divorcing your children. . . . The novel is equipped with external melodrama (an accident, a suicide attempt); and some potent sex which gives it its potential. Most women who buy it won't altogether buy its premise--they will have known too many wilted Roses.

Pub Date: Jan. 6, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Coward-McCann

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1968

Categories: FICTION