BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY

by Mark Harris ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 19, 1956

A baseball novel is really not about baseball, but about the lest months of Bruce Pearson, third string catcher on the New York Mammoths, as told by Henry ""Author"" Wiggens who wrote The Southpaw (Bobh Merrill- 1953). In the words of tie, who is ready to marry Bruce- for his insurance- Bruce, a Georgia farm boy, is ""not only from the country but he is dumb from the country, and on top of that from the dumbest part of the country there is"". So that the team, and its owners, and its manager, do not understand Author's protective sponsorship of Bruce- which begins when he hears the verdict out in Rochester, Minnesota, which continues when he has Bruce written in as a clause on his new contract although he can only be a liability to the team. Through the season, the Mammoths close in on the pennant- but time runs out for Bruce although none suspect it until the news leaks out- by September. Bruce collapses on the field- but goes home to die- and it is only Author who shows up for the . A book which has its sad, funny, human and holding moments- but which an audience which is ready to play ball. The first book should help to indicate these readers.

Pub Date: March 19, 1956

ISBN: 080327338X

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1956

Categories: FICTION