H. M. PULHAM, ESQUIRE

by John P. Marquand ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 20, 1940

Marquand with another poison pen sketch of his fellow Bostonians, this time with his vitriol, out for his own generation, men on the verge of celebrating their 25th reunions. They graduated in 1916 -- they tasted briefly the world of industry and finance and business -- they did their parts in the first world war -- they experienced the boom years and the pricking of that bubble -- they had their spurts of rebellion and then accepted the pattern of the good old days -- they found their air castles tottering and had to find a new set of values. His hero, a Back Bay Bostonian, represents more a type, perhaps, than an individual, though Boston readers will doubtless once again claim recognition and identification, and every reader will read and chuckle (or shudder) at symptoms that are all too prevalent. It is the story of a marriage of convenience, New England pattern, of dangerous years when security gave way to temptation, fleetingly, and each partner wore blinders where the mate was concerned. And -- in the final analysis -- the theme song seemed to be ""We want to stay married"". John Marquand has a facile pen, and at times a wicked one. This is good reading, but not as original as either The Late John Apley or Wickford Point.

Pub Date: Feb. 20, 1940

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1940

Categories: FICTION