JULIUS

Thoughtful observers have opined that no first three novels ever written differ from one another as much as Daphne du Maurier's THE LOVING SPIRIT (1931), I'LL NEVER BE YOUNG AGAIN (1932) and THE PROGRESS OF JULIUS later shortened to JULIUS (1933). Julius Levy as a boy endured the 1870 siege of Paris by invading Prussians. One wonders if he also observed the gallant famous use of balloons and carrier pigeons that the plucky Parisians hurled into the atmosphere to mock the surrounding Uhlan cavalrymen and other Prussians. Certainly Julius both as infant and old man was fascinated by clouds (the inspirers of unnavigable balloons). *** Clouds became the image for attractive things that Julius wanted to lay hands on, love, possess and share with no one. Rare brushes with his father's attractive, civilized Judaism tempt Julius in France, North Africa and England to be a good, normal human being. But in the course of the novel he successfully resists that temptation and becomes a thoroughly amoral, detestable human being. *** If Julius loves something but can't keep it, he kills or destroys it, so that no one else can enjoy it. He began that cycle by drowning he pet cat as his family fled from the invading Prussians into Paris. His father would soon enough strangle his unfaithful wife, with the approval of young son Julius. ***In time, through creating a string of restaurants and other innovations, Julius claws his way into respectability in England. His only child, a daughter, learns that she can get her father to do anything she wants -- except accept her falling in love with some man other than himself. -OOO-