Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review, here's a quote from the back of the book to help to you decide if this book is for you: "This is the compelling saga of men and women torn between family and tradition, ambition and fame, passion and need ... a story of the troubled and talented Daniel Kirshbaum, whose struggle to rise above his poor immigrant heritage becomes the driving force in his life. It is a tapestry of lives interwoven and intermingled, a world of glamor and ghettos, crime and passion, love and hate, war and peace, triumphs and tears -- and above all, of one man's unrelenting determination to survive ... an all-consuming saga that spans four generations in the life of a fascinating, gifted man, and the remarkable women who enriched his world."

Just thought I would let you know that the paperback book version of this book is titled The Eagle and The Dove

There are some books that have been sitting on my bookshelves for twenty or more years that I have yet to read. I've made it my solemn pledge to read each and every one that I have harboured for so many years before the day that I die. At this rate, I think I am going to be immortal.

"Rag Trade" is one that has been sitting on that shelf for more than twenty years. I'm sorry that I spent so much time avoiding what turned out to be a very heartwarming story. When the book was published, I can't see where it found rave reviews or critical acclaim. I suppose it is not a story that found you on the edge of your seat for the entire ride. It certainly wasn't a brief story, but I can't say that it could have been told in any greater brevity.

All that I CAN say is that it was one of the more pleasant accounts of a fictional family, spanning several generations that I have had the pleasure of reading. If you happen to find the book at a used bookstore on the clearance rack for 25 cents, don't discount the story as not being worthwhile because of its cheap price. It may be the best value that you ever got for a quarter!

Not a lot of reviews here I see. I managed to read it all, small print or not. But I have to say I have read very few stories with so little regard for human life. There was not much to redeem the plot, if you could call stories of one killing after another a plot. Leo kills William, Lou kills Benny, Pearl kills Lou, the attack dogs kill Leo(a fitting end for that animal) And everyone just stands around while Pearl(the murderess) makes coffee and cake and serves. Cooking under stress is what she does best. Don't bother getting a larger print version.

THIS BOOK IS A SURE FIRE RECOMMENDATION. I work in a library and our most informed patron of "what a great story" novels praised this as Orde's best book. But hardly anyone else read it because it was thick and long, _and_ it had the smallest sized print I ever saw in a paperback! And Orde's best audience are people who need LARGE PRINT to begin with. Some publisher would do well to reprint all of Orde's books in LARGE PRINT, even though they are LONG. And make them as light as possible for the arthritics who cannot handle heavy books! A challenge but WORTH IT!