FANN MARLOW

An assured and by and large cosmetic perspective of publishing, this puts between covers a literary coterie of writers and editors as they pass through the capable hands of Fann Morlowe, an agent. Fann is in love with Andrew Cartwright, a publisher, whose wealthy wife, Julia, returns to intrude on their relationship. But over and above her personal problems, with their professional repercussions, Fann's clientele involves her in obligations beyond the workaday world; the Purcells, with their demands for money; Joe Shane, whose novel must be sexed up for publication; a Frenchman whose book cannot possibly compensate her for his indecent approaches; Dana, whose delicate talent is unmarketable and whose love affair is unresolved; etc. etc. Fann manages all of this with a fair competence and success- but it remains to be seen whether the marketable (so she tells her young authors) mechanisms here- a suicide, an abortion, a murder, are enough to strengthen the story line beyond some scattered sequences.... Certainly not for the literary clique and claque; rentals are more likely. Questionable for conservatives.