Word: tormenting
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...TORMENT (312 pp.)-Perez Galdós-Farrar, Straus & Young...
Universal Amparo. There are two reasons why Torment, with its routine plot and its 19th century setting, is first-rate literary news in 1953: 1) it is told with much of the eloquence and appetite for life that are the trademarks of the great men of the novel-Dickens, Dostoevsky, Balzac, Fielding; and 2) it is virtually the first chance since the turn of the century that U.S. readers have had to meet Benito Pérez Galdós, one of Spain's finest writers (The Spendthrifts sold 400 copies in this country). Like his mighty peers...
Then Dealer Ambroise Vollard began promoting him and Rouault's reputation grew. His art was growing even faster; it lost the taint of caricature and took on the glow of compassion. Religious paintings became his most important work. At first, pure torment was what they conveyed. Then slowly Rouault imbued them with infinitely weary, infinitely tender peace. The same peace flooded his harsh landscapes, and his clowns ceased to be merely pathetic; they became almost Christlike...
...pair of Siamese-twin flunkies, joined by one long white beard, who go about their chores on roller skates. Best of many good sequences: a bizarre ballet, staged by Choreographer Eugene (Billy the Kid) Loring, in which a dungeonful of non-piano-playing musicians writhe in expressionistic torment as they are punished by fanatical Pianoman Terwilliker...
...whenever I asked for money." The children's food was coarse, the farm milk was often sour, their clothes were made of cheap material. To improve these conditions, Sister Madeleine ran up debts, stole jewelry and silver to sell in Biarritz. Said she: "I lived a life of torment at the château, because I knew that someday I would be found out. But I had the arms of my dear little children around my neck. It was a good time...