White Banners [Hardcover]

Lloyd C Douglas (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Peter Davies (1956)
• ASIN: B000IN7CSW
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,223,784 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fiction written before it's time? Early 20th or 21st century?, May 25, 2010

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

You may find yourself shaking your head and rechecking the publication date, like I did. With a few editing changes, this story could pass as a novel written about the beginning of the 21st century rather than the 20th, as it is truly penned by a very famous Indiana author, pastor, and writer of many books including "The Robe", "The Big Fisherman", "Magnificent Obsession", and many others several of which were turned into film. This book could be done into a contemporary life film, complete with widespread economic hardship.

It is the story of a lady (Hannah Parmalee) who self appoints herself to be a family housemaid, when the family, headed by Philosophy Professor Paul Ward, is tight for funds. She makes herself indispensable, immediately. she also has a secret past which is kept secret to all. The tale takes place in northern Indiana, much in Waterloo, Indiana, and mentions early the midsummer of 1916 and before the final page, the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

It is not a religious book like some of Douglas' more famous books-to-movie have been, but it does take an in-depth look at the struggles of lower and middle class life in America. At honesty. At integrity. The astonishing part is the book's application of divorce, single parenting, credit dangers, technology innovation, adoption, and many other topics, often discussed in the book between the maid and the professor. I thought these topics seem more 21 century than early 20th, but then I didn't live in that time. What is apparent, this book is timeless. With the family action taking place 90 years earlier, the reader forgets it is describing the first decade of the 21st century (with a few exceptions). It is a delight to read, just for that reason.

Running up "White Banners" instead of 'white flags' means taking a new position--not surrendering, not quitting, regardless of what life has to toss in our path. The protagonist lives that life, and often shares her philosophy of life with others, young and old.

The fact that "WHITE BANNERS" is older, only available in previously owned copies, makes it a value. Once you do, expect to search for more of Lloyd C. Douglas' books--and movies.

Enjoy this read by stepping back 9 decades--or is it just 9 days?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars White Banners, April 28, 2011

By 

Dianne "Harpette" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: White banners (Hardcover)

Hannah, appearing at pregnant Marcia Ward's door peddling an applepeeler in vily cold weather, winds up staying with the family and helping them with the newborn, the children, their finances, and giving support to Prof. Paul Ward as his invention becomes a money-maker.

Not having seen the movie, I can't make any comparison, but this book, written by the author of "The Robe" was a good read.