Avalanche, by Joseph Wachsberg. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1958. Price $4.00.

This is an excellent narrative of the events leading up to, during, and following the two notorious avalanches that struck the village of Blons, Austria, in January 1954. It is written to be a popular book and gives greatest emphasis to the events as they appeared to the residents of this village. It makes some attempt to appear scientific, at which it is not at all successful. However, as a narrative of an historical event it is satisfactory. The reader should not feel that he is going to acquire any genuine or valuable knowledge of the theory, control, or prevention of avalanches; but he may acquire a few good ideas, since this field is still in its relative infancy.

William L. Putnam