Brothers Forever

Craig Mayeux's novel is a searing searching portrait of mirth and misery crammed with tender innocence optimistic bonding and crashing sorrow-all weighed down by blind cultural precepts.<p>Two boys who share a crib in a New York institution are suddenly immersed as orphan train riders into Louisiana's Cajun/Creole folkways. One is adopted by a childless doting couple; the other is indentured to hard-luck hardscrabble farmers.<p>The former is spoiled beyond gratification; the other abused emotionally and physically with heart-aching backbreaking servitude.<p>Throughout the continuing counterpoint of bare bones versus largesse the boys stay true to their anthem of being Brothers Forever.<p>The author knows of what he writes. His grandfather George Leary was an indentured orphan train boy who traveled from New York to Cottonport Louisiana in the early twentieth century.<p>Myron Tassin<br>Author/co-author of 20 books including<br><I>Why Me Lord? Recollections of a Cottonpicker<br>Nous Sommes Acadiens/We Are Acadians</I><P>