William Eisner’s The Stone Lion introduces big business, research, sales, and marketing. Though the story has a dark and melancholy tone to it, the author uses interesting characters and creates relationships between personal and company characters. ( )

It was a struggle to finish this book about George Breal who loses his job and is hired at a technology firm owned by John Lowell. The firm is family owned and run by Lowell who is a man resistant of change. I was most interested in Lowell's family: his daughter Catherine, her son, and her lover Ishmael, an African American poet. The long involved business accounts were dull and to me. Eisner knows a lot about business operations but this is definitely not my thing. The novel does with an increased sense of humanity in the character of Lowell who does lighten up and accept change as well as reconciling with his daughter and grandson. ( )

I enjoyed this book though it started out rather slow. I especially like the characters in it, which are realistic and true to life. The title intrigued me, and I'm glad that I read it. Check it out. ( )

This book was not I expected when I requested it. It took a little while to get into it but once I did it was an enjoyable book. Being a small business owner myself going through many of the trials of Mr. Lowell but at a much younger age I could relate with his challenges and the pressure of owning a legacy not just working for a company. ( )

Many corporations in America faced challenges in the latter part of the twentieth century,from foreign competitors, they hadn’t had to worry about in the past. This caused financial stress that wasn’t always dealt with competently. Layoffs, Union strife, wages, cost of materials and manufacturing, shipping jobs overseas, selling off pieces of the company were all strategies tried by many companies to stay profitable. Some succeeded while others became a shell of themselves, went bankrupt or were bought by corporate raiders.
George Breal is downsized after 22 years with United Electric. After months of struggling he warily accepts a job in Massachusetts at Electronic Technologies (ETI), which may also be a sinking ship. The owner, CEO and micromanager John Lowell hires Breal to help turnaround the flailing company but seems unwilling to give up control or agree with decisions that may positively change their future.
Told from the point of view of four characters, George Breal, John Lowell, Edna (Lowell’s housekeeper) and Catherine Lowell (John’s estranged daughter), the story weaves its’ way through the history of ETI, family and personal issues. Eisner brings the characters to life and, love them or despise them, readers will be riveted. The Stone Lion is a fictional story, but one that most people will readily agree has aspects that ring true for corporate America over the last twenty-five years. ( )