Another Time

by Sidney Jacobson

From Library Journal This family saga mixes politics and romance, setting them against the background of Depression-era America. The main character is widower Will Jaffe, a Congressman from New York City with senatorial ambitions. Of course, he has problems. Will's forbidden love for his mother-in-law, a forced marriage of convenience, and the activities of his brother, a Communist party member, provide enough complications to keep the plot flowing along. Unfortunately, stock characters and uninspired dialogue blunt the story's impact. Also, Jacobson has tried to cram so much into his story--FDR and the New Deal, the dust bowl, the growth of the motion picture industry in Hollywood, the beginnings of the war effort--that nothing is fully developed. Readable if you like the genre, but Belva Plain and Susan Howatch are more fun. Not a necessary purchase.- Beth Ann Mills, New Rochelle P.L., N.Y.Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Publishers Weekly By the author of Streets of Gold , this second novel is an absorbing tale of thwarted desire and driving ambition played out within the social turmoil of Depression-era America. Chronicling the rise of Will Jaffe, a young congressman from New York, the story moves across the country, unfolding a dramatic turn of events that parallels the upheaval of the times. The novel's panoramic sweep encompasses the politics of Washington, the glamour of early Hollywood, the tragedy of the dust bowl and the struggles of organized labor. Set against the historical backdrop of the New Deal, and peopled with such real-life figures as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Louis Howe, the plot moves quickly, as the main characters are hounded by destructive passions. Early on, Will loses his wife in a tragic accident and agrees to an arranged marriage designed to hide an illicit affair that could ruin his political career. Frieda, his new wife, soon discovers ways to use her knowledge for her own gain; and Vera, Jaffe's true love (and former mother-in-law) makes a pathetic attempt to regain her youthful beauty. Jaffe's brother, Noah, an ardent communist organizer, travels the country engaged in labor struggles; and Will himself is the target of anti-Semitism. With the drama and action of a TV mini-series, and the novelty of its May-December romance, the novel may have commercial potential. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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