THE CURSE OF CAIN

by Ivan Southall ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 10, 1968

Genesis 1-10, selectively edited, and jazzed up with modern characterizations. As in The Sword of Esau (p. 267, J-95), a literal interpretation of incidents leads to some near-ludicrous situations which tend to distort rather than elucidate intentionally spare and vague Scriptural passages. Adam, who makes himself learn a word a day, introduces Eve to the pleasure of a large vocabulary and she, in a somewhat misogynous version of the Revised Standard, leads him on to evil after evil. Cain explains his curse as ""an abstract, and abstracts are not for you"" (his people). The ark scenes are more acceptably embossed; however, Noah's three sons are, white, brown and black (and Ham, the latter, is cursed to a life of slavery in Genesis). Again in the author's imagination, Eve has skin the color of honey, hair the color of gold. No Sunday School picnic but for some a break in the Bible class routine.

Pub Date: Sept. 10, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1968

Categories: FICTION