Kirkus Reviews QR Code
THE FEARED AND THE FEARLESS by Guthrie Wilson

THE FEARED AND THE FEARLESS

By

Pub Date: Sept. 25th, 1953
Publisher: Putnam

A gruelling story of a homicidal maniac who feels that he has been called by God to fight the Fascisti. He champions a village of credulous Italians, gains the support of his comrades-in-arms, and then glories in the wholesale Fascist massacre which ensues. An American girl becomes his mistress, and also becomes pregnant before she realizes that he is mad. She runs away with another young man in his command, who shoots him and leaves him for dead. Actually Brutto, as the peasants call him , does not die, but is picked up by an Allied unit, and eventually placed in an asylum where he proves dangerous. Meanwhile, his son is born, and his former mistress lives in the constant fear of his return. But he murders his psychiatrist, escapes and is shot down by a posse of guards..... And though he dies with an expression of great peace on his face,the workout here is anything but restful.