John P. Marquand Revisited

While browsing in the Almost Perfect Bookstore, which specializes in used books, about a year or two ago, I came across a book I read in high school. First of all, you have to understand that this bookstore has old Bantam pocket books that originally retailed for 75 cents and are now sold used for $1.00. Old hardbound books cost about $3.50, complete with faded dust jacket. Every so often you come across underlining or notes someone made in the margin. I even found one that said Merry Christmas, Dad 1950. These are old books with old memories in them.

The book I found on this particular occasion was The Late George Apley by John P. Marquand. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for that book which dealt with Boston aristocracy during the early part of the 20th Century. I don't really remember much about that book because, as I said, I read it for high school English, which was a long time ago. But this bookstore had half a dozen other books written by this particular author, none of which I had ever heard of. But at a dollar a pop, you can't go wrong and I needed something to read on the airplane. So, I bought all six of them.

All of the books are essentially the same. They deal with a hero [always a man] who is successful in some line of business - one is a lawyer, one is a playwright, another is a guy who rewrites plays, and yet another is a newscaster. What makes each book interesting is that the author thoroughly understands the business the hero is in and gives an extremely realistic description of it. The hero always returns from his big job in New York to his home town and reminisces about his first girl, who is often the daughter of some wealthy big shot in town. When the hero [poor at this time] is about to marry this girl, something breaks them apart and he spends the rest of his life wondering what it would have been like to have married her and lived in that small New England town. The details vary but the story is essentially the same each time.

So, why do I like these novels so much? First of all, let's not discount the nostalgia factor. The stories all take place between 1920 and 1960. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and the setting of these stories seem so familiar to me. I could have [and probably did ] grow up in one of Marquand's fictional New England towns. Secondly, there is an abundance of philosophy and poignant observations in these stories. Marquand always says something familiar about human nature, about growing up, about people and about relationships in his stories. You can't help but relate to the stories and the characters. His comments and heroes make you think. Not much actually happens in these books. There is none of the non-stop action of Tom Clancy or the mystery of Dan Brown. But you will feel good after reading one of these books. It will be a stroll down memory lane of a time and a place that no longer exists but is very familiar to anyone born in the baby boom generation.

I've read 5 of the 6 books I bought and I will finish the last soon. My favorite was Wickford Point. H.M. Pullham Esq. would be my second favorite. I saw a movie version of this book on AMC last summer, black and white starring Robert Young. Melville Godwin, USA focuses on the life of a fictional WW II general. So Little Time, Point of No Return and Women and Thomas Harrow round out my collection. Read any or all of them; you will not be disappointed and they will bring back some great memories.