THE BIG CAGE

We reviewed this title originally in 1947 when it was scheduled for publication on the Appleton-Century list. Although we have not seen new proofs, we understand that the story is essentially as reported herewith: ""The author of the hardhitting Casualty writes of a youthful dedication with energy, some feeling of autobiography, and a telling honesty. Young Black, a laborer's son in Cincinnati, is early to devote himself to reading, becomes a self-determined writer. He lives in a world of stories and characters more real than the one in which he exists, his writing attains greater maturity than he. But little experience or ability to live in reality, spoil his friendships, all based on his literary ability. An enraged visit to a psychiatrist and unusual honors at the University, and then he is caught by his infatuation for Nancy and her intensity. With her he hitchhikes across the country, loses her when she returns to her husband and mother, continues the trip alone. Through the South he meets violence, jail, intolerance, perversions, and at last in New York he comes into the knowledge that he has never escaped, that in all the worlds on the move he is free only in his own home town. A realistic to natural self-exposure, in which posturing vies with sincerity and the shell of authorship is broken by maturity. Exuberant vitality, some cutting satire, this reflects the writing period of the '20's, the midwest cultural scene as a background for a personal crusade. An interesting if not necessarily popular book.