The Inheritors

by Philip Atlee

Her name was Lucille. She was different from the others--at first. The others--they were the fast, the naked, the dissolute, the lost. And they moved in a world of violence and outrage. Lucille showed up at one of their drunken parties. She thought she could resist the sweet, sharp temptations they thrust before here. But she was wrong.

305 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

Pseudonym of James Atlee Phillips

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Atlee's first book was an expose about local country club members. An avid flyer, he was a member of the Flying Tigers before WWII. He joined the Marines after Pearl Harbor. He ran Amphibian Airways in Burma, probably for the CIA, and it is from this experience that his first Joe Gall book, Pagoda, came.

Reviews

[bookish_zebra_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Inheritors had all the ingredients of a book I thought I would really enjoy—a lost American classic, a scandalous reputation, wealthy young people behaving badly, and a sharp look at privilege and moral decay. Unfortunately, the reading experience didn't quite live up to the fascinating premise.

Set in Fort Worth in the 1930s, the novel follows George Bellamy Jimble and his group of wealthy young friends as they drink, party and drift through a world of privilege and excess. The book is deliberately unflattering about this particular slice of American society, portraying a generation with plenty of money and opportunity but very little sense of purpose.

I appreciated what Philip Atlee was trying to do. There is some biting social commentary here, particularly around inherited wealth, privilege and the emptiness that can come with having everything handed to you. The writing also has an interesting period feel, and knowing that the novel caused such controversy when it was originally published definitely adds another layer to the reading experience.

My biggest problem was the pacing. This is a short book, but somehow it felt like a much longer read. For a story centred around reckless young people, there was surprisingly little momentum for much of the book. I kept waiting for things to really start moving, and when they finally did, I was already very close to the end. It left me with the frustrating feeling that the book was somehow both too short and too long—there wasn't enough space for the story to develop fully, yet the journey to get there felt unnecessarily slow.

There are definitely interesting ideas here, and I can understand why the novel has gained renewed attention as a forgotten American classic. I just wish the execution had matched the intriguing history and premise. At 208 pages, I expected a relatively quick, sharp read, but it turned out to be a much slower experience than I anticipated.

Recommended for: Readers interested in rediscovered literary classics, American social satire, and novels exploring inherited wealth and privileged young people.
Content warnings: Alcohol and substance use, sexual content, misogyny, racism, violence, death.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to me because it's set in old Fort Worth. Really hard to find title- I had to read it online. It's kind of a Gatsby tale but set in my hometown.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, a bit too edgelord for a humble man like myself. By the time something of consequence happens and the books starts to find itself, it's way too late.

[Tennessee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t let the endless drinking and lighting of cigarettes wear you down. This is a remarkable portrait of the young dissolute country club set in 1930’s Fort Worth.

[John Dravenstott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahead of its time. Awesome that it was reprinted! Stopping at a 4 for now but I have a feeling I move it 5 after re-read.