Based on the true story of a privateer who became Governor of Jamaica, F. Van Wyck Mason’s novel Cutlass Empire is a swashbuckler whose swash has long since buckled.
Archive for April, 2009
Dull Edge to Cutlass Empire
Posted in 1949 Bestselling Novels, Fictional biography, Historical, Romance, tagged 1600s, Caribbean, England, F. Van Wyck Mason, France, Jamaica, New World, Panama, privateer, Spain on April 29, 2009 | Comments Off
Forgotten history in forgettable novel
Posted in 1949 Bestselling Novels, Historical, Romance, tagged colonial America, French colonies, French-Canadian, Montreal, New Orleans, Spanish colonies, Thomas B. Costain on April 22, 2009 | 1 Comment »
High Towers is a bodice-ripping historical novel about a lovely lass who becomes one of the early settlers of New Orleans. Thomas B. Costain takes his plot and characters straight from the shelf with nary a variation on the standard pot-boiler romance. The only novelty here is the historical setting.
Dull lead character makes vivid reading
Posted in 1949 Bestselling Novels, Psychological novel, tagged banking, finance, investments, John P. Marquand on April 15, 2009 | Comments Off
You won’t remember Point of No Return long, but you won’t be bored while you’re reading it. John Marquand is so skilled a writer that he makes an entertaining novel out of experiences that didn’t excite even their participants.
Have Dinner at Antoine’s Again
Posted in 1949 Bestselling Novels, Mystery, Romance, tagged Frances Parkinson Keyes on April 13, 2009 | Comments Off
The novel in sixth position on the 1949 bestseller list was Dinner at Antoine’s by Frances Parkinson Keyes, which appeared in third place in 1948.
I reviewed the book last year on this blog.
Though far from a great novel, the book is one that I’ve read several times and always found enjoyable. I think you’ll find [...]
Rage to Live Is Rotten to Read
Posted in 1949 Bestselling Novels, tagged John O'Hara on April 8, 2009 | Comments Off
A Rage to Live is a senior moment in novel form. About 250 pages into the novel, John O’Hara reaches the “what was I going to do?” point. He can’t remember, but he goes on writing for another 350 pages anyway.
Mary Is No Entertainer
Posted in 1949 Bestselling Novels, Fictional biography, Religious, tagged Bible, Jesus, Nazareth, Sholem Asch on April 1, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Sholem Asch’s novel Mary has to follow the familiar Biblical narrative about the mother of Jesus, which doesn’t leave a lot of room for surprises. Before you open the cover, you know what’s going to happen.
Dangle in 1948 files for Big Fisherman
Posted in 1948 Bestselling Novels, 1949 Bestselling Novels, Fictional biography, Historical, Religious on April 1, 2009 | Comments Off
The #2 bestseller for 1949, The Big Fisherman, was #1 in1948.
For read my review of the historical-religious novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, use the drop down menu links at the right. You will find the review under these categories:
1948 novels
religious novels
historical novels
