in the field as well as those who desire an over-all view of the place and function of the Mattachine Society in the homophile movement.

T.M.M.

THEY WALK IN SHADOW by J. D. Mercer, Comet Press Books, New York 14, N. Y., $5.95, pp. 573.

The purpose of this rather formidable volume is made clear from the outset. It is "a study of sexual variations with emphasis on the ambisexual and homosexual components and our contemporary sex laws." It deals with the biological, psychological, medical, social-moral, and legal aspects of sex with particular stress on ambisexual and homosexual aspects and is addressed to psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, social workers and others interested in the field. It is hoped that it will be of use to legislators, judges, lawyers, government executives, and others having to do with law enforcement. This elaborate program is followed out with a content which is adequate on the whole, but with a style which is rather surprising. The book is written so clearly and non-technically that it could well be placed in the hands of questioning youth, if they would read so long a book, at the same time that it shows extensive familiarity with the literature of the field and is logical and appealing in the conclusions which it draws. The author is so fully aware of the inconclusive character of so much that has passed for information in the field and the lack of genuine research data that he states frankly that he holds no dogmatic attitude towards his own views. He rather hopes that they will stimulate further study of the facts and encourage greater effort to establish

one

just and fair social attitudes as well as a more defensible basis for legal. action. That the orientation is both theoretical and practical is indicated by the dedication which on the one hand is directed to Dr. Kinsey and his associates and on the other to the Wolfenden Committee.

Considering the almost encyclopedic scope of the work, it is impossible to summarize its contents, but a few comments may be made.

The author announces himself as a "self-confessed and self-accepting ambisexual who has struck a happy balance between his own nature and the world at large." Yet there is always the necessity of "walking in the shadow," or as others have phrased it. "behind a mask," that is to say, an individual may have attained an inner harmony without at the same time being able to overcome the legal and Judeo-Christian tradition which impinges upon him with a supreme irrationality. Almost universal mismonceptions and false and vicious folklore also surrounds him with an atmosphere of supicion and antagonism. Thus is outlined the task of those who would seek to gain recognition for the sex deviant in a truly democratic world. The author does not hesitate to pour out the vials of his wrath upon the insane chaos of the laws in the United States and elsewhere and plead for a new attitude toward their victims. A chapter on Summary and Conclusions is especially well done, and, in this reviewer's opinion, the propositions are likely to be much changed with more research in spite of the author's modest disclaimer against any attempt at finality. A glossary and vocabulary are added to the book, but they are rather inadequate and add little to its value except possibly for the most immature readers.

T.M.M.

not