A WALK IN THE SUN

[New York]: The New American Library, [1957]., 1957. First edition. First paperback edition. Author's first novel. From this Academy Award winning screenwriter for A Place in the Sun and Arch of Triumph, comes a splendid WW II novel based on his combat infantry experiences. "In the Allied landings at Salerno on the Italian peninsula during World War II, a fictional platoon loses its lieutenant and senior sergeant to enemy fire, regroups inland to decide what to do, and soon loses its next-senior NCO to battle fatigue. This short but intense novel follows the remaining members of the platoon as they attempt to ascertain their mission and carry it out based on the only guide they have, a map found on the lieutenant s body. The day unfolds from there as simple as a walk in the sun, as simple, really, as war sometimes is. Some make it, some don t, and those who don t aren't always dead." One of the promotional quotations says "Private Brown knows human character so intimately and has such superb powers as a writer that he can portray men in battle wonderfully well, better than has any other author writing of the Second World War, of whom I have any knowledge." Made into a movie in 146 movie starring Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, and Lloyd Bridges. Near fine in pictorial wrappers.