Job Redivivus

THE PASTOR OF POGGSEE -- Gustav Frenssen--Houghton Mifflin ($2.50).*

Adam Barfood was as sturdy as his name. Son of a Holstein village carpenter, he grew up to be as rugged as his father, and, hoping there was something significant in his parentage, determined to be a parson. But he was so interested in people and such a good mixer he had a hard time passing his examinations. No parson of doubtful sex, when he got married it was to a girl with fire in her.

His cynical old Bishop laughed at Adam, sent him to an appropriate, hard-drinking, earthy parish. Adam did well, but never in an earthly way: he couldn't get out of debt because he couldn't resist helping people. Still he was so comfortable he thought the world was progressing. Then the War came. His two sons were killed, his favorite daughter died of exposure. His parishioners turned against him, suspected him of stealing the church treasure, of burning the rectory to cover his tracks. His wife grew old, went nearly demented from grief and hard times. Gradually, painfully, things got better. Adam, a modern Job, won through like his famed prototype.

The Author. Gustav Frenssen, himself a onetime parson, son of a carpenter, resigned his pastorate, but not his profession, in 1902 to write homiletic novels. His manner of writing may seem at first simpleminded, but its energy and innocence grow on you: The Pastor of Poggsee is as good as good bread. Discriminating U. S. readers know Frenssen particularly by one other (translated) book: Jorn Uhl.

*Published July 15.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.