JOURNEY IN THE DARK

Family saga set in an Iowa town which makes robust, catholic reading. A sturdy, well-rounded, full panelled portrait of one man's life, Sam Braden, generous, honest, hardworking, with good natural instincts set a bit awry by the stigma of poverty in childhood. His chief aim has been a successful business career plus redeeming himself in the eyes of Eileen Wyatt, daughter of socially prominent home town people. Eileen, on the rebound when the cousin she loves marries her best friend, agrees to marry Sam, but the marriage is never a success and they separate. Sam finds happiness with Emilie; they have a son, Hath, and Sam retires, a millionaire. Emilie dies and father and son are at odds, but with the war, and Hath's enlistment, they are reconciled. Hath is killed -- and Sam does his share in a defense plant. A rather stolid -- and solid --piece of writing, lacking the light touch of Mr. Littlejohn.