THE DARK PHILOSOPHERS

A conversational style, with undercurrents of subtlety, and caustic humor, redeem this episodic essay- which is scarcely a novel. Mostly it is concerned with the musings of the boys in the back room of Idomeno's tea shop, Ben, Walter, Arthur, young Willie and the author. Dark their philosophy may be, but it is a healthy one, full of insight, simplicity. In the midst of the depression- between wars, in a poor section of a Welsh mining community,- the boys enjoy talking over the sick world and the poor ""voters"", their term for anybody and everybody. Placed in neon position is the Reverend Emmanuel and his story, a man who compromised with his ideals only to have them return too late for beneficiary results... The market for this will be limited.