i,
The officers, board of directors and members
HEBREW LADIES AID SOCIETY
`The Lotus Eaters' Is Sociologically Powerful Story
Having distinguished himself
with his previous novels, espe-
cially his impressive "The Last
Angry Man," Gerald Green is
almost assured of success for
his latest novel, "The Lotus
Eaters," by the very fact that
he is its author. His publishers,
Charles Scribner's Sons, (597
5th Ave., N. Y. 17) may well
look forward to seeing "The
Lotus Eaters" on the best sell-
er list.
There is this to be said for
"The Lotus Eaters": it has
enough merit to be considered a
first rate novel without the prec-
edent of the author's establish-
ed popularity.
The plot for this novel is
woven in a Florida resort where
the hero, Dr. Tom Sorrento, now
a university professor, a one-
time football star and Marine
hero, heads a team of anthro-
pologists who are seeking to
unearth the remains of an
ancient Indian civilization.
Parallel to the activities of
the anthropologists is the chi-
canery of a public relations
man, Ira DeKay, who appears
to have command over wealth,
who seems to have power over
all around him, who is deter-
mined to get everything he
craves for, and actually gets
Tom's wife who becomes his
mistress. But he eventually pays
the price for his tricks—he is
murdered by a pal whom he
disgraces, and the Sorrentos
return to the east to university
life, with a last minute triumph
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[1'
of finding an ancient wall he
had been searching for.
There are many distinguish-
ing elements in this novel which
make it stand out as a social
study. The discussion's of the
Negro race issue are on a high
plane and throw light on the
conflicts in a southern commun-
ity.
Then there is the PR element
—the bombastic approach of a
public relations man who is
determined to b u y everyone
off, who is everyone's friend
while plotting to acquire all the
power he can muster for him-
self.
* *
There are Jewish characters
in the narrative—the Ellenbo-
bens who own the land where
the diggings take place—land
which DeKay aspired to convert
into a religious exhibition area,
a sort of "God-O-Rama" which
later was to be changed into a
panorama called "The Spirit of
Man" and which actually takes
shape out of the Eller bogens'
convictions of the practicality
of the scheme.
The Ellenbogens are dignified
people. They do not abuse any
one and they are a credit to
their community. The numer-
ous Yiddish expressions that
creep into the book do not come
from them, however, but rather
from DeKay, from Sorrento and
_others in the story. Sorrento
was supposed to have learned
them from his neighbors in New
York.
One is compelled to question
the connection of Yiddish with
the tale. It hardly belongs there
in most instances. When one
of the anthropologists, Peltz,
becomes discouraged as a result
of his share in the adventure of
the Negro colleague who takes
him to a Negro religious rally,
and becomes a shamus, it is un-
derstandable. It livens up the
plot. But more often than not,
the reader will challenge the
author's constant use of Yiddish
expressions which may have to
be translated even for Jewish
readers.
But there is this to be said
for Gerald Green: he does not
resort to the Yiddishisms mal-
iciously; he does not abuse a
privilege; he does not denigrate
his heritage.
* * *
There is a moralizing and ser-
monizing episode when Prof.
Maitland, Mrs. Sorrento's father,
philosophizes about the position
of the Jews and makes the as-
sertion that "the greater part
of Europe approved of what
happened to the Jews" under
the Nazis. Perhaps the author
means Toynbee when he has
Maitland say that there is a
learned professor, a global
thinker, "who feels that the Nazi
crime against the Jews was not
the tortures and executions
visited on them, but rather that
these attrocities caused the sur-
viving Jews to stumble. By this
he means the extremism of cer-
tain Zionist factions." Maitland
said, "this is no gutter hoodlum
speaking. This chap is called
one of our great historians. A
man totally without cultural
perspective, I might add."
Maitland's comments may be
the subject for many discussions
by book reviewers, by sermon-
izers, by rabbis who review
novels.
The views of Maitland, like
the views of the colored preach-
er on the race question, are
powerful social aspects of a
powerful novel. In its total
framework, "The Lotus Eaters"
is a good novel, well coordin-
ated, excellently written. Ger-
ald Green has enhanced his
reputation with this work.
Snobs talk as if they had
begotten their own ancestors.
—Herbert Agar
of the
extend to the Jewish Community of Detroit and to our people
in Israel and the world over, Best Wishes For A Healthy,
Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Our sincerest thanks to our contributors for their generosity
and cooperation throughout the years.
HEBREW LADIES AID SOCIETY
Mrs. David Weiss, Pres.
•
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TrZ113 11:1
The officers, board of directors and members of the
SISTERS OF ZION MIZRACH, Chapter of Detroit,
extend to the Jewish Community of Detroit and to our people
in Israel and the world over, Best Wishes For A Healthy,
Floppy and Prosperous New Year.
Our sincerest thanks and appreciation to our contributors for
their generosity and cooperation throughout the years.
SISTERS OF ZION MIZRACHI
Mrs. Morris Goldberg, Pres.
Happy New Year
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Tune-ups — Broke service — Mufflers
'4800 E. 7 Mile Rd.
TW 2-9749
Holiday Greetings
PAUL'S AUTO PARTS
Complete line of automotive ports
Machine shop service
VE 9-6939
12225 Gratiot
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M. B. PIERCE WILSON DAIRY
Good Things To Eot — Soda Fountain
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Happy New Year to Our Friends and Patrons
Wait- gashions by crouis
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EVERKRISP
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TY 8-0200
49 TH E DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Frid ay, October 2, 1959
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Gerald Green's Latest Novel