Books in Brief: A World of Profit

A World of Profit, by Louis Auchincloss (Houghton, $5.95). Despite his tiring mannerisms, his annoying inconsistencies, his officious habit of over-interpreting every action of his characters, Louis Auchincloss does occasionally produce a fine novel. His latest book, A World of Profit, is his best work since The Rector of Justin (1964) and a thoroughly creditable effort. Still working with the usual Auchincloss stereotypes of the decaying old New York family and the ruthless, upstart entrepreneur, he manages to breathe real life into their matrimonial and financial struggles and to distribute the guilt for their ultimate downfall rather equitably. In this book, Auchincloss has allowed his characters more complex personalities and therefore more opportunities for experiencing believable stress and anguish, and he has at last made convincing use of his legal background in describing the proxy fight and divorce suits which are the climax of the novel.