Description

(from Grosset & Dunlap dustjacket) Novelized by Joseph Weil from the famous play by Preston Sturgis. When real love comes to a young girl anything may happen. "STRICTLY DISHONORABLE" is a story of what does happen. Isabelle Parry, beautiful Southern miss, laughs at love and suitors until Henry Green comes into her life. Perhaps she is dazzled by the idea of leaving her small town to live in the metropolis. At any rate, she says "Yes!" She is thrilled by her trip North to visit Henry's people. As a fitting climax to a whirlwind courtship, Henry takes Isabelle on her first rounds of New York night life. A few too many drinks in a Forty-ninth Street speakeasy makes him surly. He deserts his fiancee. The inexperienced girl is thrown upon the mercy of two strangers. For the first time in her life she pends the night in a man's apartment. The unusual romance of a famous play is charmingly disclosed in this finely written novel.

Notes

Could not finish. This is an atrocious novelization with none of the Preston Sturgis magic I can only hope the play had. The writing is awful; the characterization, paper-thin. MC F is from the Southern United States and there's a huge flag associated with her reminiscing about life on her family's plantation -- brief but bad. MC M is called a number of ethnic slurs (he's Italian) but this is indicated as being wrong. The wonderful dust jacket is the only and, unfortunately, insufficient selling point of this mess. Unconvinced? Here's a sample of the fare: (Chapter IV) "Gaily she prepared for it. She lingered long in the tub and thought of Henry...her Henry. She splashed happily. She slapped the limpid water over her neck and arms. She frisked the soap around her and made mountains of bubbles about her. She watched the white froth roll softly over her breasts. She let handfuls of water trickle down to wash it away. She slipped her hands caressingly over her bosom and watched the sun reflect itself on its shiny, wet expanse. Henry...her Henry...was she luring him on as Mrs. Greene had accused the worthless girl in the picture play? She slid farther into the water. She breathed deeply and watched her wet breasts rise in fulsome splendor. She felt vital...alive...she pressed her lips tightly and sighed...she crushed her hands over her breasts...she was an animal...and she felt the surge of bridled passion...she wanted to be loved! She wanted Henry to love her...or did she?"

Tags

1930s, American, Italian, South American, United States, Northeast, already taken, beautiful/handsome, cheerful, f/m, famous, forced proximity, hair, dark, male, nobility/royalty, not recommended, novelized play, playboy, rich, romance, single, stodgy fiance(e), third-person, young

Flags

insensitive or outdated language (race/ethnicity/disability/sexual orientation), racism