Although written in 1965 (when Matthiessen was 38) the novel still remains vibrant and relevant, its staying power attested by its transition to film almost 30 years later in 1992. Even though it would seem almost un-filmable, the director did a good job, carried in part by the beautiful photography of the Amazon. The book is basically about the extinction of a smaller culture by a larger more powerful culture - it is no accident the main characters are Jewish and Navajo Indian, two cultures that have historically successfully resisted attempts at genocide. Matthiessen was active with indigenous peoples in the Amazon when he published the non-fiction book "The Cloud Forest" in 1962, just a few years before "Fields of the Lord", the two works can be profitably be read in conjunction as both biographical of Matthiessen's evolving views and understanding of the culture and geography. ( )

missionaries in South American rain forest clash with local politicians

3.00 ( )

I chose this for a book/movie club because I liked the movie so much, but as the film turned out to be 3+ hours long, we chose The Mission to view. Both are typical missionary-mercenary stories, where people tamper with primitive cultures for different – usually selfish -- reasons (example: Poisonwood Bible). The book starts very slowly, and is a rather negative take on missionaries, but by the sixth chapter it gets into gear, and I found it very thought-provoking, exploring issues of faith, identity and culture from the point of view of missionaries (both Catholic and fundamentalist, American and non-), government officials, and most especially the compelling native American mercenary character who is adrift in every world: Louis Moon. ( )

Matthiessen writes intelligently, but never quite captures me, but never would I say he isn't worth a read. ( )

Two American Protestant missionaries and two mercenaries try to change the life of an Indian tribe in the Amazon jungle, and are changed themselves in the process. An administrator tries to use them for his own purposes. ( )