NONE SHALL KNOW

by Peter de Polnay ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 25, 1976

None shall know, others will be tantalized by de Polnay's latest diversion--seemingly more aimless and itinerant than most of his earlier stories, which were far better noticed in England than here. Chance, wit, and slanted asides are all part of Iris subtle equipment. This new novel is particularly precarious in its choice of a central character. Gilbert is a slack sort who works for a vague Organization, Our Cultural Heritage. It represents ""harmless nobodies""--Serbian patriots, or are they intelligence agents? After a dull weekend in Deauville with his Aunt Gwladys (sic) and the unsolicited seduction by her niece Monica, he wins two million francs on the lottery. This gives him the opportunity to travel on ""two roads""--by way of several other women the second road teaches him about death, twice, and costs him his job. He can no longer enjoy his leisure and none of his inamoratas bring him any real satisfaction. Thus he is gently shoved toward the first road--Monica and marriage. In this randomly amorphous world of free choice, de Polnay provides few direction markers. An American audience, like Gilbert, will need to be taken by the hand.

Pub Date: Feb. 25, 1976

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1976

Categories: FICTION