MADE IN U.S.A.

by Hans Otto Storm ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1939

Pity the Tyrant was a rather unusual story of an American in Peru, which received an equally unusual press. This is quite different, in theme and setting, but reveals again Storm's direct, uncompromising approach -- his knack of characterizing (almost caricaturizing) men and women with few words. But I doubt if the book will reach a wide market: it lacks sufficient meaning in the long run. This is a cross section of a small cargo-passenger boat shoaled on an uncharted bar in mid-ocean, when the prejudices and passions of little people are brought into full play -- captain, crew, and divers types of passengers, school teachers, pallid middle-aged business men, an artist-failure, etc. There's a certain drama when the captain refuses to call for assistance to save his reputation, and the crew mutinies. But at the close the boat clears the shoal and life returns to par. Storm's ironical, trenchant writing is way above the material, and I can't see the vox populi asking for it.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1939

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Longmans, Green

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1939

Categories: FICTION