The Merry-Go-Round Man: A Metaphor on Life

In 1954, while still in elementary school, best friends Lee Esner, Jimmy Wiggins, and Johnny Roth create a game: “Whoever gets there [top of the merry-go-round] first is the real King of the Mountain. Whoever wins is Champ for life. For the rest of his life he’s on Easy Street!”

Lee was the handsome one, a rich white boy from an influential family. Jimmy was an African-American born to a has-been boxer dad, and Johnny was a Jewish boy whose dad wanted him to become a rabbi.

Lee won the battle to the top of the carousel as author John B. Rosenman tells the story of each boy as they progress through high school and their years after graduation. 

The Merry-Go-Round Man is a coming of age novel about three boys growing up during the “innocent” Eisenhower Era. Through Lee’s eyes we see an entitled boy getting into the best college on a football scholarship and the myriad of women he attracts. Jimmy, who is from the ghetto, also attends Lee’s elite white school. Through him we see the ugly racism of his society. Finally, there’s Johnny Roth, the central character of the novel, who clashes with his father about his future. Johnny wants to be an artist, but his orthodox Jewish father has other things in mind for his son. Johnny, who comes across as a mild mannered boy, can wallop a punch that knocks out the worst bully in his school. When Jimmy’s dad learns about Johnny’s talent he tries to lead the boy into a boxing career. 

Author John B. Rosenman writes a well-written novel with life lessons everyone can relate to. The dialogue flows naturally, the plot moves quickly, and the settings are beautifully described. This is one book that should be a part of every high school student’s curriculum. 

About the Author

John B. Rosenman is a retired English professor at Norfolk State University in Virginia. His published short stories have appeared in Weird Tales, Galaxy, and Fangoria. His novels include Inspector of the Cross series and Beyond Those Distant Stars.