A Review of On With The Show
by Richard R. Pyves – Xanadu Book Awards
BOOK BUY LINK
4 STARS
“What is the thread that pulls a man through the abyss?” This question hums beneath the surface of Richard R. Pyves’ On With The Show, a vivid tapestry of family biography, social history, and the quiet triumph of the human spirit. The novel chronicles the life of Bert Eason, an entertainer who rises from the stormy shores of Depression-era Brighton to the uncertain promise of Canada. Pyves, writing with the affectionate rigor of a grandson and the precision of a historian, illuminates not just Bert’s life but the era that shaped him.
The narrative opens in Brighton, England, where young Bert is forged in the fires of adversity. His childhood is marked by loss—of his mother, his siblings, and, in some measure, the safety of innocence itself. Yet, it is not despair that defines Bert, but resolve. This resolve propels him across the Atlantic with little more than dreams and $25, a sum paltry enough to draw admiration from any modern reader.
Pyves paints Bert’s arrival in Canada with the muted colors of hardship and hope. We see a young man who finds work, builds a life, and forges a love story with Kathleen, a woman whose steadfastness anchors the narrative. The world shifts under Bert’s feet as he enlists in World War I, and Pyves captures the era with snapshots—historical photographs that lend weight to the prose and remind readers that this is not fiction but the echo of real lives lived in extraordinary times.
Peace returns, and with it, the rhythm of family life. But Bert, restless and infused with a love of music, carves a space for himself in the entertainment world. It is here that Pyves’ narrative comes most alive. The descriptions of Bert’s shows shimmer with vitality, and the details Pyves uncovers—performances, venues, audiences—are rich enough to transport the reader into the footlights' glow.
Still, On With The Show is not merely the story of one man; it is a reflection of a generation. Pyves contextualizes Bert’s life within the broader currents of Depression-era and wartime society. At times, this wider lens creates a tension. The narrative risks losing the immediacy of its central figure, and Bert’s voice, so personal and compelling, is occasionally muffled by broader historical exposition. Yet, even this perceived distance underscores the novel’s ambition: to capture not just the individual but the epoch that shaped him.
For those drawn to genealogy and social history, Pyves’ appendices are a treasure trove. Family trees, detailed show records, and photographs deepen the reader’s engagement and highlight the care with which Pyves reconstructs his grandfather’s world.
By the end, On With The Show feels less like a book and more like a conversation between generations—a bridge between the past and the present. Bert Eason’s story is both deeply personal and strikingly universal, a tribute to resilience, creativity, and the enduring power of family. Pyves’ work invites us to remember not only the struggles but the songs, the laughter, and the light that persist through even the darkest days.
The Xanadu Book Awards is now open for 2025! You may request an editorial review and/or enter the contest HERE
Commentaires