Callaghan Books

When I first saw this book I was very excited. However, while it has the potential to be a very good story the book, unfortunately, reads like a ship's log and, therefore, is very difficult to follow.

I haven't read this book but I have read a book by R. Palme Dutt and she is a great writer. Don't take antything John Callaghan says about her seriously. Read one of Dutt's books to learn the truth.

The previous reviewer has Rajani Palme Dutt confused with someone else. 'She' is actually a 'he' and he is a long deceased Stalinist stalwart of the CPGB. Dutt's early career was impressive, but as Callaghan makes clear he became a mouthpiece for Moscow. That said Callaghan's book is an ordinary overview and not very engaging. Dutt's life was more exciting than the version conveyed by Callaghan.

This book is useless if it doesn't at least include a published copy of the story or stories analyzed. I was not able to see what was included as a resource in the book and was very disappointed after the purchase.

When I found this book my interest was peeked. How often have we all read books from the perception of the US or UK governments of the Soviet Union. The Soviets are always portrayed in a rather negative light. I thought it would be very informative to see how they perceived us. I was rather excited to read the book. Unfortuantly for me the only thing less dull then this book is watching water evaporate. You can tell this book was written and published because of a tenor requirement for a college professor. I can just image classes of 19 year olds trying to get through his dense, dry and dull writing. Walking through pudding up to your neck in December would be easier then completing this book. What kind of sick man would force college kids to read this book?

To be honest I could only force myself to get through half of the book, it was just so badly written that even the interesting bits were bogged down with the obscure word choice. The best use for the book going forward would be as a doorstop or coaster. Save yourself the money, time and headaches and pass by this book fast.

The above addition is a 1987 edition. It was reprinted in 1997 and has had two updates to it in 1998. The 1987 edition for sale is outdated and useless.

This was a rather bad book. Banal does not begin to describe it. The blurb on the book said that Callaghan is a classic Canadian writer, but this book does little to suggest that. Purple prose mixed with trite observations of Paris circa the tumultuous late sixties is combined with little skill at all in getting into the inner psychology of his characters. This book deserves to be out of print.