The Pledge by Howard Fast tells the fast-paced story of Bruce Bacon, a World War II war correspondent. His discovery of the British responsibility for the Bengal famine in 1943 and association with Indian communists land him in front of the Senate Un-American Activities Committee. He also falls in love with Molly Maguire, herself an avowed community and journalist for The Daily Worker. This is her story as well. Fast himself was part of the McCarthy hearings and I may add his memoir to my reading list. The book also takes a look at the layers of New York society and family bonds as Bacon some from a wealthy Protestant family who do not necessarily welcome a feisty Irish Catholic into their midst.

It turned out to be a timely read as Fast explored the machinations of the government in their zeal to hunt down communists. I had forgotten that Nixon was part of the committee and the irony of his future was not lost on the contemporary reader. And Fast's examination of how such a thing can happen shed light on how and why people become convinced of conspiracies and how those in charge keep them in line. It was scary in some ways.

In the end, it just wasn't a great story as Fast seemed more interest in making his points. There was some complexity in the characters, especially Bacon's parents, but most of them were there to either support or thwart Bacon and his efforts to both get his book published and maintain his integrity, standing for various points of view.

I'm giving it three stars. Not sorry I read it but not giving it a hearty recommendation. I had never heard of the Bengali famine of 1943 so learned a bit of history. ( )

foreign corresp. British in India - Molly
McCarthy era in prison - dull

Bruce Bacon, a war correspondent stationed in Bengal near the end of World War II, investigates a terrible famine that has left millions in India starving to death, despite ample food supplies stored--and allegedly withheld--by the British. Seeking to tell his story back in New York, Bacon meets members of a communist organization, including a "Daily Worker" reporter named Molly Maguire. But the America he returns to is not the same one he left behind, and soon Bacon discovers that associating with communists has put him squarely in the crosshairs of the House Un-American Activities Committee.