RETREAT FROM ROSTOV

A fictionalization of the Rostov campaign on an extensive scale, one of those panoramic, populated novels with everything in quantity, and not much in quality. The siege, taking of the city and retreat as lived through by a cast of some twenty five characters:- Kaaron Terenski and Peter, her jealous husband, Josef, the young music student who is in love with her; Colonel Pfeiffer, typical Prussian, and the Polish woman, Gruska, whom he bargains for in exchange for information on her fiance, a prisoner, whom he disposes of; two whores of the woman's corps; Boris, a guerilla fighter; two German officers; and Roger and Bess, American correspondents in love with each other, but putting a good story first. The action involves them all, with plenty of incident -- handled in, let us say, much the way Stephen Longstreet might handle such material.