Books: Nascent Epic?

THE FIVE SEASONS—Phelps Putnam—Scribner ($2).

Since the days of Michael Wigglesworth (1631-1705) many a poet has aspired to write the American epic. Latest to throw his black Mexican hat into the ring is Phelps Putnam, whose hero, Bill Williams, is wandering through America, which he frankly characterizes as Hell. To Bill's amours and rowdy friends, a small number of readers were first introduced when Poet Putnam's Trine appeared in 1927. In The Five Seasons, Bill no longer is a mere collection of verse, but emerges as an American character to whom Epicist Putnam has dedicated his life.

Hero Bill discovers that America is...