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But the characterizations in Captain from Castile are too sharp, the historical material too exact, to allow the book to be dismissed as merely a skillful costume thriller. Its language is sometimes too high flown, its plot too intricate and too neat, to satisfy the exacting requirements of serious literature. But, it is among the best popular fictional accounts of the conquistadores that has appeared (less burdened with history than Edward Stucken's The Great White Gods), less exotic than Salvador de Madariaga's The Heart of Jade. As good reading, certain to take the minds of thousands of readers off their troubles for tens of thousands of hours, Captain from Castile is first rate.
The Author. Dr. Samuel Shellabarger, 56, was born in Washington, D.C., educated at Munich and Harvard. He is now headmaster of the Columbus (Ohio) School for Girls. For 20 years, under his own and two pen names (John Esteven, Peter Loring), he has been writing mysteries, romances, biographies. Captain from Castile is his first big success. Chosen by the Literary Guild for January, it has also been snapped up by 20th Century-Fox for $100,000.