SON OF THE DANUBE

A good yarn -- not historical in content or background, but an excellent factual context and a good story of Mitko and his friends, who lived on the banks of the Danube in Bulgaria. There is no central plot thread, other than the link of the river life; there's a wealth of realistic detail, a flavor of the country, which gives this the quality of the Seredy books on Hungary. The style is vigorous, the action swift paced and continuous. In these days when we need to feel closer intimacy with the countries of southeastern Europe, this book should fill a real need. The woodcuts by Hans Alexander Mueller give a decorative note, factually sound.