THE MUSIC IS GONE

Laconie prose but warm interpretation for a portrait of the south, of the ragged border lands of St. John's County, of desolate poverty and ignorance in Negroes who never had a chance and whites who had lost hope. Among them lived one man, last of the country doctors, who gave his life to his people and who redeemed their hopelessness through two youngsters. Will Gray, skillful, benevolent, far-seeing, and lonely at the death of his wife, fights narrow political practices when he puts through the swamp drainage which will wipe out malaria. He escapes the sorrow of his own childlessness when he adopts, unofficially, Raz, who wanted to be a doctor, and Lucia, whose talent and love for music he encourages. Through the opportunity he gives these two he sees fulfilled the promise he had recognised. There's a nice quality to this, in the man, and in Lucia and Raz, along with indigenous regional portraiture.