THE PHANTOM OF THE BRIDGE

by Leon Ware ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 20, 1954

There is something gripping about this struggle- of a poor boy left alone in a city (presumably San Francisco?) who sticks to high ideals despite overwhelming odds- one of them being a homelessness that leads him to a makeshift dwelling beneath the structure of the huge, inspiring bridge. Tommy Murname's mother is dead and his father is a lawless bum who shames him. But Tommy is endowed with a basic sense of decency that enables him to keep a stiff upper lip, his old friends and the goal of a good education. Threatened with the prospect of being taken over by Welfare when his father drifts away, Tommy goes to the bridge under the guise of living with another family- and during his days there becomes known as its mysterious phantom when he dissuades two suicides. Paralleling this, his daily life of work, school and friendships build to the good until Tommy is given the chance to become an engineer. Not truly profound, but inspirational and unsentimental, this should prove its worth to many readers.

Pub Date: Sept. 20, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Westminster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1954

Categories: FICTION