Irwin Shaw Critical Essay | Critical Essay by Milton Rugoff

Critical Essay by Milton Rugoff

[The plight of liberals] in a period whose chief contribution to politics is the smear, guilt by association, conviction without hearing and loyalty by threat is the general subject of ["The Troubled Air"]. Since the particular subject is the firing of five persons from a radio program because a fly-by-night magazine charges they are Communists or fellow travelers, it could hardly be more timely. The point it makes may not endure, but meanwhile it should interest anyone who gives a second thought to his political position.

Considering the present state of political feeling, it took courage on the part of the novelist to make a liberal the sympathetic central character. (p. 1)

Archer is faced with a peremptory order to drop five members of his company because someone thinks they are too radical. Archer could have complied or resigned. But he bargains, at the risk of his own neck, for...
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