THE HOPEFUL HEART

....belongs to the Hon. Frank Allingham, who through his years in Oflag 8, after fighting in North Africa, continues his belief in the importance of humanity, the possibility of a better world. Even when he learns that his wife, Olive, has left him, he aims- on his return to England following the German defeat - to help his fellow men. First, he runs as a Liberal and is beaten, and then turns to writing for a newspaper. Olive returns to him, briefly, then runs off again, this time with his brother. Frank realizes his true love for another woman, and faces hope again in his coverage of postwar, international conferences. This -- as in many of Philip Gibbs' novels- is thin plotting to weave together a reflection of England after the war, conflicts within mirroring conflicts without- discursive, argumentative, detailed reportage.