Delectable Island

ENTERTAINING THE ISLANDERS--Struth-ers Burt--Scribner ($2.50).

David was a Manhattan advertising man who made good money by writing "disingenuous panegyrics to panties, scanties and rouge." He pined for higher things, finally took a vacation in the Caribbean, looking for a likely spot to write his serious book. On St. Birgitta, U. S.-owned tropical island, he settled down to the life of an industrious Reilly. David became great pals with Millionaire Julius Wack. St. Birgitta's leading resident, and very easily fell in love with his niece Anita, who had come for a rest and to ponder a divorce. Several exciting events disturbed their tropical romance: David nearly drowned trying to rescue a man he despised; Anita's husband shot and blinded himself. But a hurricane made all clear: Author Burt rings down a rosy curtain on his lovers and their island. The tale is entertaining but seriously intended, carefully but (at times) garrulously written. In real life people never talk so wordily to their point; implicit in Author Burt's novels is the conviction that talk is important. A satire on U. S. cultural vices, Entertaining the Islanders is also an earnest plea--which Burt-readers have heard before but will willingly hear again--for a more refined, intelligent, cultured, splendid, "gently bred" U. S.

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