An English translation by Richard Howard was published in 1963.

[2] Hans Koningsberger of The Saturday Review called the book "a splendid novel", and wrote: "The tradition of the book is very Sartrian and very French[.]

Cau has continued and greatly contributed to this pattern rather than emulated it.

The formula may sound pat, the book is fresh and original."

The critic continued: "I objected, at least in this translation, to the similarity in speech between four men of such vastly different background, but, apart from that—a minor point—this novel deserves nothing but praise.