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Committal Chamber
A quick, engaging page-turner. An odd story about three men representing three generations (WWI, WWII, postwar) who work behind the scenes at a funeral home.
Three men and their women are brought to face the truth about themselves in the committal chamber of a crematorium. The truth is not the picture which they present to the world, nor is it the obverse, the instant alternative, which springs to mind. It is something less contrived, more devious, more true to life, more casual. It is something more real. It captures the imagination: reducing men and women to their basic essentials. There are no concessions to convention here. Men and women are really like this. This is the truth about them. Looking death in the eye, this is really how they live. Here is an outstanding novel by a major author.
Three men and their women are brought to face the truth about themselves in the committal chamber of a crematorium. The truth is not the picture which they present to the world, nor is it the obverse, the instant alternative, which springs to mind. It is something less contrived, more devious, more true to life, more casual. It is something more real. It captures the imagination: reducing men and women to their basic essentials. There are no concessions to convention here. Men and women are really like this. This is the truth about them. Looking death in the eye, this is really how they live. Here is an outstanding novel by a major author.
204 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1969
16 people want to read
About the author
Russell Braddon
69 books23 followersRussell Reading Braddon was an Australian writer of novels, biographies and TV scripts. His chronicle of his four years as a prisoner of war, The Naked Island, sold more than a million copies.
Braddon was born in Sydney, Australia, the son of a barrister. He served in the Malayan campaign during World War II. He was held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in Pudu and Changi prisons and on the Thailand-Burma Railway between 1942 and 1945.
In 1949, Braddon moved to England. He described his writing career as "beginning by chance". The Naked Island, published in 1952, was one of the first accounts of a Japanese prisoner of war's experience.
Braddon went on to produce a wide range of works, including novels, biographies, histories, TV scripts and newspaper articles. He was also a broadcaster on radio and television.
Proud Australian Boy: A Biography of Russell Braddon by Nigel Starck was published in Australia in 2011.
Braddon was born in Sydney, Australia, the son of a barrister. He served in the Malayan campaign during World War II. He was held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in Pudu and Changi prisons and on the Thailand-Burma Railway between 1942 and 1945.
In 1949, Braddon moved to England. He described his writing career as "beginning by chance". The Naked Island, published in 1952, was one of the first accounts of a Japanese prisoner of war's experience.
Braddon went on to produce a wide range of works, including novels, biographies, histories, TV scripts and newspaper articles. He was also a broadcaster on radio and television.
Proud Australian Boy: A Biography of Russell Braddon by Nigel Starck was published in Australia in 2011.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 7, 2024
Quick suspense tale. It does stumble a little in the end but still worth a read.
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