WIND BEFORE RAIN

Good modern regional stuff in a first novel of life -- and death -- in the Valley as the Virginia hill folk are lured by promise of cash wages, luxuries, modern dwellings in return for factory work. The conflict is shown through the story of three brothers, -- one who gets involved in shady deals, one who has deserted to the factories, and the third, Hobe, who holds firmly to the land and traditions, through torn by the desires of his young wife, Creed, for the ""pretties"" that she thinks a job in the factories would insure. Town life, factory work, the dishonesties of speculation bring disillusionment -- and the hill people turn back to Hobe, the man who has stood for his principles, make him their spokesman, and send him to his death. Well done, a promising writer.