Fair Demolition Job

Mr. Gilbert adds only one new ingredient to the familiar “Liberal” novel: architecture. For the rest, he sticks to the tested and approved formula of prejudice and sex, nicely laced with “advanced” political ideas.

The book springs from Yale, out of “Weir-d” Hall, and concerns a number of young architects and the women in their lives, especially half-Irish, half-Jewish Rafferty Bloom and the rebellious Boston blueblood, Troy Austin. The architectural theme, which runs throughout, is handled with flair and feeling; but the characters fail to make good the author’s assurance that “their actions or words are not intended in any way to comment or reflect on… the places, institutions, or persons [mentioned in this book].” A minor but unpleasant character is introduced for no discernible reason except that she “whined for the home town of Huntsville, Alabama.” Her equally unnecessary but more congenial husband “went home to Alabama but couldn’t stand it any more. Too many Southerners down there…” And then: “ ‘The hunting-riding-lynching set down there [West Virginia, this time] is something you can get your teeth into, Troy.’ “ For something “not intended,” that does a fair demolition job on the South.

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Frances Beck

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Mr. Gilbert adds only one new ingredient to the familiar “Liberal” novel: architecture. For the rest, he sticks to the tested and approved formula of prejudice and sex, nicely laced with “advanced” political ideas.

The book springs from Yale, out of “Weir-d” Hall, and concerns a number of young architects and the women in their lives, especially half-Irish, half-Jewish Rafferty Bloom and the rebellious Boston blueblood, Troy Austin. The architectural theme, which runs throughout, is handled with flair and feeling; but the characters fail to make good the author’s assurance that “their actions or words are not intended in any way to comment or reflect on… the places, institutions, or persons [mentioned in this book].” A minor but unpleasant character is introduced for no discernible reason except that she “whined for the home town of Huntsville, Alabama.” Her equally unnecessary but more congenial husband “went home to Alabama but couldn’t stand it any more. Too many Southerners down there…” And then: “ ‘The hunting-riding-lynching set down there [West Virginia, this time] is something you can get your teeth into, Troy.’ “ For something “not intended,” that does a fair demolition job on the South.