Now I Lay Me down to Sleep: The prayer of childhood in literature and song

by William O. Bourne

The hero of Ludwig Bemelmans' first novel is one Leonidas Erosa, a South American general heavy with years and money, residing in Biarritz with his retinue. This includes a paragon of a cook (no Bemelmans book would be complete without fine food); an Indian to care for his dogs; a fabulous secretary; a mistress; and the faithful English governess, Miss Graves, who carries her coffin with her when they travel. This sportive party, at the approach of war, sets out for America. Their adventures in Casablanca, in New York, and finally on the old hacienda in Ecuador, are a saga of life, love, death, and birth.

Genres: Fiction

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1943

Reviews

[Jane]

It's lines like this that make me love Bemelmans: "His chest looked like a sofa ripped open."
And another bit of conversation:
"This weather," said the Beauty, "makes me feel like spitting in someone's face."
The General said to the steward: "Bring Madame Lopez a face to spit in."

[kora!!]

I’m not sure that i like could tell you what this book is about? Like the start of it, i was rlly into it but then i got in the middle and simply continued for the sole purpose of me starting it.

I can say that i can appreciate the imagery and the wording, i think it was very lovely but jesus i have no clue what this book was about and it lowkey didn’t make sense. i don’t know, it was just soooo confusing to read and too many characters were introduced all at once. the title and cover does look lovely but i don’t know i was disappointed.

[S Cearley]

The plot of the book ends about 2/3 of the way in, and the remainder becomes little more than character sketches.

[Dan]

The first paragraph alone is as evocative as anything else Bemelmans wrote. I hope Ecuadoreans like this more than they do Bemelmans' other adult book about the country, "The Donkey Inside" (funny stories and character sketches), which I learned the hard way not to bring up around them.