c.1943 HAP CARPENTER. Unpublished World War II Novel "Beggars Would Ride." Bing Crosby &c.

An absolutely superb unpublished World War II, Bing Crosby, Military, Romance, Mystery, Comedy Novel. 

Very much a work of its time, the pages are filled with smoke-soaked pubs of seaman in their blues with their "fruit salad" [military bars, etc.] on their pockets; orchestras playing; girls giggling with Coke's in their hand looking for the most promising sailor, French soldiers, English boys, and Americans, lots of "gosh darns" and "oh hecks."

Then there are the over-confident soldiers bested by spunky, worldly-wise women, our leading woman nick-named "slim" by a ne'er do well pursuer [Patrick McQuadeson], a girl with a modeling career, mentions of the University of Pennsylvania, swoony love-making speeches [Have you ever been held very, very tightly and had the livin all loved out of you? Have you ever been put on. star and shoved right across the sky into heaven, with the moon for a pillow?], the British merchant marines, etc. 

It has much the feel of something like Yank in the RAF, Buck Privates with Abbott and Costello, To Be or not To Be with Jack Benny, or I was a Male War Bride with Cary Grant. Very much a USO, go get 'em boys piece of fiction. 

The book was written by Betty Carpenter, wife of Ken Carpenter [1900-1984], long-time TV and radio announcer, sportscaster, and announcer for the singer - actor Bing Crosby for 27 years. 

She is referred to on the title as Hap Carpenter, likely a reference to General Henry "Hap" Arnold, Ken's boss when working for the Armed Forces Radio Service. Betty was a formidable woman, as her female characters in the novel, and it was likely a bit of a wink-nod pet name given her on this account. 

Final leaf contains a timed schedule for what is almost certainly one of the Armed Forces Radio Service programs during the Second World War, including an opening prayer by Ronald Colman and performances and appearances by James Cagney, Jack Benny, Shirley Ross, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Charles Laughton, Bette Davis, Deanna Durbin, Eddie Cantor, etc., with closing remarks by President Harry Truman. See HERE for a history of the programs. 

We can almost be sure the novel was pitched to Carpenters Hollywood friends. One could easily hear the lines slipping out of Crosby's lips. 

This also likely dates the novel to the early to  mid 1940's. 

Carpenter, Hap. Beggars Would Ride. Nd. c.1943/4. Unpublished. 191pp.