The Class

Erich Segal

In 1954, over one thousand young men were lined up to enroll in Harvard University. They basically the best of the best of their generation. This novel follows the story of five of the men until their 25th reunion in 1983.

Andrew Eliot, from the old, famous American Eliot family, is the preppie of the group. He is there because Eliots have always gone to Harvard. Danny Rossi is a gifted piano player/music student. Ted Lambrose is the Cambridge kid who lives in town but achieved his dream of attending Harvard. Jason Gilbert is the sports lover whose rich family has renounced any historical heritage. Two years later George Keller escapes Hungary and is sponsored by Harvard to come to the United States to study.

This saga follows the men over the next 29 years. Andrew is the one whom all the others have in common. Andrew keeps up his diaries as generations of Eliots have. George discovers he has a knack for politics. Ted becomes as passionate about the Greek classics as he is about Harvard, becoming a professor. Danny pursues his love of music. Jason discovers his Jewish heritage.

What a moving book! In 1954 these men were fired up with the potential of their future. Segal then lets us follow that future, including the downs as well as the ups. They met and graduated in the Eisenhower administration, worked through the turbulent sixties and the unfocused seventies in the United States. They have lifelong loves and flings. Some ignore their children, others realize their children are probably the most precious thing they have.

The Class is easy, engrossing reading. I especially recommend it for anyone in their forties or older - it will be easy to identify with many of the feelings. Segal has presented some great tales here.

There are more reviews for this book at . When looking them over, I had to laugh at the person who was recommending it for teen agers. I guess between us we think people at any stage of life will appreciate and identify with this book.