Committal Chamber

A quick, engaging page-turner. An odd story about three men representing three generations (WWI, WWII, postwar) who work behind the scenes at a funeral home.

Three men and their women are brought to face the truth about themselves in the committal chamber of a crematorium. The truth is not the picture which they present to the world, nor is it the obverse, the instant alternative, which springs to mind. It is something less contrived, more devious, more true to life, more casual. It is something more real. It captures the reducing men and women to their basic essentials. There are no concessions to convention here. Men and women are really like this. This is the truth about them. Looking death in the eye, this is really how they live. Here is an outstanding novel by a major author.