THE SHIP AND THE FLAME

A highly readable novel about some refugees, mostly political, who escape from Europe at the beginning of the second world war. They are stopped by a U-boat, which arrests several but one, Joseph Renner, prefers to commit suicide. When the ship lands in Mexico, their visas are found to be fraudulent and they are denied entry. Stiano Argento, a liberal professor, more actively anti-fascist since Renner's death, attempts to raise money for the bond which will enable them to land, but fails. None seem to realize the seriousness of their plight as the Captain, a Nazi sympathizer, decides to go to Casablanca where they will face death or imprisonment. They land in Norfolk, Virginia, for refueling, when one of the passengers escapes, and after several suspenseful days, the U.S. agrees to let the passengers land and they are fortuitously saved... A competent handling of character and plot, of atmosphere and dialogue,-perhaps better than his Mount Allegro (1943) which sold well.