MY UNCLE DUDLEY

Saroyan derivative for this first novel of laconic, warm-hearted character interpretation as a carload of assorted personalities make their way south and east from California. Uncle Dudley, resilient, earthily philosophic, manages to sell all the space in a car, as yet unbought, and with his nephew, the Kid, collects his passengers in the second hand Harmon their passage money has purchased. Troubles, gay and grim, dog their way, the costs more and more; eating and sleeping provide plenty of incidents, as friction breaks out among the seven passengers, and Uncle Dudley manages to keep the group together until a last, disastrous breakup of the car lands the survivors in jail where the inmates take some of the starch out of even Uncle Dudley. Modern pilgrimage in modern manner, with much that is likable.