THE PRIVATE WORLD OF CULLY POWERS

by George Bluestone ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 22, 1960

Cully Powers, from New York, enters on his trainee cycle determined to be a devoted soldier, but the empty spaces of his brain are so filled with imaginary family, incidents, and dreams of glory that his actual existence is made up of shame and disgrace. Sent to a Southern camp, his droopy pants, his inability to execute orders properly, his conquest of (and defeat by) a balky shower, his riding high on a moving target -- are a part of his early days of conflict with his officers and, when the issues between him and Lt. Flint become personal, his frenzied efforts to find a button for his uniform lead to AWOL, arrest and jail. There Cully adopts a non-cooperative policy, peddles bootleg and achieves a hero status when he saves the battalion from death but, losing his trousers during the presentation of his award, earns him an invitation to leave. And on his return home -- he signs up with the Air Force. Potshotting at the military is anybody's fair game and this, a first novel which gives a microscopic view of today's army, again sets its sights on the lack of humanity, the inefficiency, and the regimentation- but does not always score bull's-eyes.

Pub Date: July 22, 1960

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1960

Categories: FICTION