Reviewed by Booth Tarkington
+ N Y Times p18 N 28 ’20 420w
“Quite aside from the personal matters there are descriptions of the life in the ethereal realm that, to say the least, must commend themselves to those who have already acquired some conceptions of the next phase of life.”
+ Springf’d Republican p7a N 28 ’20 360w
CROCKETT, SAMUEL RUTHERFORD. Light out of the east. *$1.90 (2½c) Doran
20–22156
This is not a story of the return of Christ to earth, but it is the story of a Christ-like figure who remakes the world on the basis of Jesus’ teachings. He is known as the White Pope, for altho only a poor monk, Brother Christopher had been elevated to the Vatican. To the horror of all, however, he had forsaken the papal throne to wander about the earth teaching that God is to be found only in men’s hearts. So Lucas Cargill of Cargillfield, Scotland, meets him and becomes his first disciple and recorder of the events that follow. In several respects the narrative parallels the life of Jesus.
“Nothing in ‘The light out of the east’ is probable or even possible, and in addition to its manifest exaggeration, the religious element is lugged in. This hardly makes an artistic book; in fact, it does not even make a moderately good story.”
− Boston Transcript p6 Ag 7 ’20 200w