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CASTLE GARAC by Nicholas Monsarrat

CASTLE GARAC

By

Pub Date: Oct. 24th, 1955
Publisher: Knopf

Slim pickings, this is a modern fairy tale, virtually complete with ogre and ogress- a sophisticated pair, captive princess, rescuing prince, towered, walled castle, etc. etc., It even leaves a great many questions unsolved, another attribute of fables. But there is a romance with a happy ending to make the world-weary feel young again. Perhaps Nicholas Monsarrat felt this rare phenomenon was about due -- and the Literary Guild puts on its seal of approval. So be it. You have the French Riviers as a setting; you have a starving American awaiting word on his first novel- and reduced to petty larceny to satisfy his hunger; you have the slick operator, a suspicious character from the start, and his unconvincing vamp of a wife; you have a double assignment:- to locate a ruined castle, complete with chapel, tower and walls, and then cherchez la femme. 19, blonde and beautiful. The ingredients at hand, the story proceeds -- and only the climax is unpredictable. Monsarrat can do better than this.