Mainstream - May 1958 - Vol.12 No.

Aug 28, 2026

Mainstream magazine issue from May 1958 presents a lineup of poems and literary pieces by V.J. Jerome, Thomas McGrath, Russell Davis, Siqueiros, and Charles Humboldt. The featured section includes “The Book of Ruth” and related excerpts, alongside artwork credit and editorial introductions. The publication also contains a “Books in Review” section, surveying prominent American literary titles and commentary, giving readers an overview of contemporary writing, criticism, and cultural discussion.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages68

Reading Time1 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

Books in Review

Poems and literary features

The Book of Ruth

Mainstream V.J.Jerome RPAH HE EDUCATION OF SCIENTISTS Norbert Wiener Thomas McGrath HREE POEMS Russell Davis THOSE WERE THE DAYS Siqueiros ART 50 cents May,1958 Vol.12,No. Mainstream Editor CHARLES HUMBOLDTM AY,1958Contributing Editors HERBERT APTHEKEROrpah:V.J.Jerome 1 JACK BEECHINGThe Education of Scientists:Norbert Wiener 11Three Poems:Thomas McGrath 22PHILLIP BONOSKYDrawing:Siqweiros 25JESUS CoLONThose Were the Days:Russell Davis 26SIDNEY FINKELSTEINNo Hard Feelings:Cbarles Humboldt 43 HUGO GELLERTRight Face 51 # Books in ReviewBARBARA GILES The Best American Short Stories,1957,ed.SHIRLEY GRAHAMMartha Foley:Pbillip Bonosky 53 The Raw Edge,by Benjamin Appel:MILTON HOWARDLawrence Emery 55 JOHN HoWARD LAWSONThe Shape of Content,by Ben Shahn:Henry Praeger 56MERIDEL LE SUEURThe Empire of High Finance,by Victor Perlo;Tbe American Economy,by Alvin Hansen:WALTER LoWENFELSRichard Rowe 59 THOMAS MCGRATHAmerican Pbilosophers at Work,ed.SidneyHook:Albert E.Blumberg 63ANNETTE T.RUBINSTEINThe World Is a Comedy:A Tucholsky An-thology,trans.and ed.Harry Zohn:MartinPHILIP STEVENSONCaider 65 V.J.JEROME And they lifted up their voice,and wept again:and Orpah kissed her mother in law;but Ruthclave unto her. And she said,Behold,thy sister in law is goneback unto her people and unto her god... # —The Book of Ruth SOLITARY she walked,a desolate figure,up the scraggy path by themouoin tat led bacl from the crossroads toA in te Eioldofmountain that led back from the crossroads,to Ar,in the Field ofMoab.She walked under the white sun,slowstepped,with head low.Once only did she turn to look down the winding road behind her,standing on the knoll at the bend where the milletfield began.Shecould no longer descry in the empty distance the two human formsthat had come to be all her life. The urge came upon her to set off again on the road she had for-saken,to run until she overtook Ruth and Naomi on their way to Judah.She made a start to turn back,unmindful of the burdening bag ofsaffron-dyed kidskin she carried.But her step faltered as she recalledthe forking of the roads beyond Eddar.What hope was left her offinding them before they crossed the River Arnon into Reuben totravel thence,by which course she knew not,to the bank of the Jordan? Under a jutting rock of the brooding tawny mountain Orpah stood,frightened by her aloneness."It is over—over,"the sad words whisperedthemselves across her lips.She would never see them more.Her ownhand,an hour gone by,had cut the strands of oneness with the fleshand blood of Chilion,her everbeloved,who was no more.Ruth hadclung to Naomi like a daughter,but she like a daughter-in-law hadabandoned her.Desperately she clutched at the remembrance of her 2 :Mairstream golden days with Chilion,and the fragrant afterlove,born of grief,that had twined her and Ruth and Naomi like lilies of a kindred grow-ing tall together.Emptiness gaped before her and she could no longerfeel solid ground.The earth under her had sunk and become a dark pitwithout bottom and she was suspended in a void over which no heavenhung.Yet she did not rue what she had done. She set down her bag and drew out her woolen shawled cloak torest upon under the solitary carobtree by the road,for the scant shadeits branches might give her.A deep wayweariness settled upon herafter the miles she had traversed forth and back under the pitiless sum-mer sun.She marvelled how the two green lizards on the scorchedstone could lie there basking in the open white blaze,and how the cricketscould will to go on chirping.She had prevailed upon Naomi and Ruthto take the pouch of dates and her goatskin waterbottle.How parchedshe felt now,and how she longed to dip her aching bare feet in coolwater!She sighed deeply;her eyes closed in troubled reverie. Turn again,my daughters:why will you go with me?are there yetany more sons in my womb,that they may be your husbands?Naomi'swords before the parting still sounded th

FAQs

What sections are included in this May 1958 Mainstream issue?

The issue contains poems and literary features, an excerpted segment titled “The Book of Ruth,” and a “Books in Review” section reviewing contemporary titles.

Which contributors are credited for the poems and pieces in this issue?

V.J. Jerome, Thomas McGrath, Russell Davis, Siqueiros, and Charles Humboldt are listed among the main contributors for the featured content.

What does the “Books in Review” part cover?

It reviews notable books and authors, presenting summaries or evaluations of prominent American literary and intellectual works published around that period.

Aug 28, 2026

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