Author of Walking Across Egypt and Lunch at the Piccadilly, Clyde Edgerton is once again offering humor and food for thought in a novel set in the South. Henry Dampier is the Bibler salesman. He and Preston Clearwater share the spotlight in The Bible Salesman.

Henry acquires the Bibles he sells by ordering free Bibles from "one of those places up north that gave away Bibles "and then selling them doorto door. He has been mildly successful at this when he meets Clearwater. If his conscience twinges at all, he remembers that these people need a Bible.

The time is soon after World War II. Clearwater belongs to a car-theft ring. He has worked his way up in the organization, having begun by stealing two dump trucks, a forklift, four jeeps, seven chain saws, and sixteen hundred pairs of aviator glasses from the army. When he sees Henry hitching a ride, he thinks he may have found a gullible soul who can help him in his chosen career.

Henry believes that Clearwater is an FBI agent, and that he can be an undercover agent, too. He really wants to do the right thing, but is sometimes confused about what that might be. He can quote scripture with the best of them, having learned many verses at Aunt Dorie's knee, so to speak. At age 20, he is now trying to read the Bible and finds more confusion.

If Abraham, who is certainly a good person, being the father of the Israelites, "goes in" to his wife's maid (Henry is pretty sure what that means), then maybe Henry can mess around a bit, too. When he meets Marleen, he becomes increasingly sure about that.

Meanwhile, he is helping Clearwater drive stolen cars here and there, thinking he is assisting the FBI to catch a gang of thieves. Henry remains innocent till almost the end of the book, but the reader soon learns that Clearwater is not only a thief.

Edgerton's minor characters are a joy, also. In addition to Marleen, we meet Caroline, Henry's sister, his cousin, and Aunt Dorie and Uncle Jack. Aunt Dorie is staunchly religious; Uncle Jack is fond of the bottle. Both are very kind and understanding. They have raised Henry following the bizarre death of his father and his mother's departure. The dialogue is authentic but not insulting.

Edgerton is amused by his characters and their exploits, and the reader enjoys the ride. The Bible Salesman is available at the Mary Willis Library.