First published in 1950, The Bitterweed Path is a story of love between men in the American South a generation after the Civil War. Two young boys, Darrell and Roger, meet at a school athletics event, they instantly become friends. Darrell's father is a no good tenant farmer, Roger's father, Malcolm Pitt a wealthy land owner; when Darrell's father rents land from the Pitts,the boys' friendship is cemented while Malcolm takes a fatherly interest in Darrell.

The friendship between Darrell and Roger and his father grows with the story, Malcolm sees in Darrell the son that Roger, destined for an education, can never be; he loves Darrell more than his own son. That his love is at times expressed physically is subtly suggested, as is the intimacy between Darrell and Roger. There are inevitably tension in friendship the between the two boys, but the remain steadfast as brothers.

The Bitterweed Path is a moving, beautifully told story. With so much literature today that leaves nothing to the imagination, this novel proves that as much, and move, can be achieved without resort to graphic description. A novel worth reading for the quality of the prose alone, but all the more so for the beauty of the friendship it depcits. ( )