Reviews

This is the first U.S. appearance of West's first novel (originally published in England in 1965) and, while there are flashes of the brilliance he'd show in efforts like Lord Byron's Doctor ( LJ 9/1/89) and Love's Mansion ( LJ 9/1/92), there are also lengthy stretches that are pure drudgery. The plot moves on the symbiotic relationship between Papa Nick, a wealthy, well-educated dropout who runs a flophouse for ``bums''; a dwarf named Lazarus; and Lacland, a near-comatose derelict they find in a subway entrance. Uncertain if he's become nurse or jailer, Papa ``protects'' Lacland by locking him in a crate in the cellar. When he begins to spout Rimbaud and brandish a knife, Papa learns of the strange connection between Lacland and the spiteful Lazarus. The two eventually form a foundation for retired dwarfs--a promising beginning--but West ladens what little remains of the plot with meandering, hallucinatory dream sequences and Papa Nick's tedious toenail and armpit ruminations. Recommended for serious fiction collections.-- Ron Antonucci, Hudson Lib. & Historical Soc . , Ohio

First published in England in 1965, West's ( Lord Byron's Doctor ) first novel is a depressing account of homelessness and spiritual death. Set in New Babylon, this eccentric story revolves around Papa Nick, a nurturing old man who lives among the destitute and desperate; Pee Wee Lazarus, a midget professional wrestler; and Lacland, a homeless man whom Nick takes in. This novel, for the most part, is a character study of these figures as they encounter betrayal, hopelessness and the overdetermined vagaries of those who live on society's margins. After finding Lacland on the streets and housing him in a basement for rehabilitation, Papa Nick goodnaturedly sets about bringing order and commitment to the homeless man's life. Lacland learns quickly and is soon the toast of the town. Eventually, though, he withdraws from Papa Nick and, when he is involved in a young woman's drowning, begins to slide back into his old ways. This Eliza Doolittle-turned-Frankenstein story revolves around the themes of liberal intentions gone awry and the decay of neighborly community values. Not for the faint of heart, this is a dark, unrelenting novel. (Feb.)