FACE OF A HERO

by Pierre Boulle ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 27, 1956

A third novel has only irony in common with the earlier Not The Gie and The Bridge Over the River Kwa and this develops perhaps not a new theme the duality of a man who becomes greater as he becomes weaker- with loving precision and persuasion. Jean Berthier, Public Prosecutor, in an austere and assiduous worker with a tradition of decency and rectitude behind him. He is to witness an accident to a young girl which takes her life- a life he could have saved, and from the guilt of his initial inaction, his concealment of the facts in the case leads on to a more criminal path of action. The girl is believed to have been murdered and a local boy is accused; Berthier, more and more aggressive in his handling of the suspect, exaggerates the evidence, extorts a confession, and finally in an impassioned presentation in court, demands the death penalty which will not only establish him as a ""hero"" but convince him of his own greatness.... A rather savage fable of corruption, and a believable story as well.

Pub Date: Sept. 27, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Vanguard

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1956

Categories: FICTION