Kenny

by Louis Bromfield

Three novellas by Louis Bromfield - Kenny, Retread, and The End of the Road - all set around the Second World War. Kenny tells the story of animalistic vitality and cyclical Nature on Bromfield's farm, while Retread relays the exploits of a California WWI veteran returning to the front in WWII. The End of the Road chronicles the life and downfall of Jane Trenoir, a '20s-'30s socialite, adventuress, and Nazi collaborator.

219 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Louis Bromfield was an American author and conservationist who gained international recognition winning the Pulitzer Prize and pioneering innovative scientific farming concepts.

Bromfield studied agriculture at Cornell University from 1914 to 1916,[1] but transferred to Columbia University to study journalism. While at Columbia University, Louis Bromfield was initiated into the fraternal organization Phi Delta Theta. His time at Columbia would be short lived and he left after less than a year to go to war. After serving with the American Field Service in World War I and being awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor, he returned to New York City and found work as a reporter. In 1924, his first novel, The Green Bay Tree, won instant acclaim. He won the 1927 Pulitzer Prize for best novel for Early Autumn. All of his 30 books were best-sellers, and many, such as The Rains Came and Mrs. Parkington, were made into successful motion pictures.

photograph by: Carl Van Vechten

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual set of novellas - very clear thematic ties in the first two (Kenny and Retread) that were not present in the third (The End of the Road). Kenny struck me as a bit sentimental and oddly pagan-spiritualist (like The Wind in the Willows in some parts), but I quite enjoyed Retread. The End of the Road seemed disjointed and lacked stakes - never really cared either way about the Nazi-courting adventuress Jane Trenoir.

[Paz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desigual