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This seems a simple -- almost an obvious book -- until its overtones and undertones begin to do their deadly work. Then one realizes that, compact in less than 200 pages, is the story of what is happening to the conquerors and the conquered the world over, today. The yeast of freedom, of democracy, the soul of unconquerable man, is working to destroy those who deny freedom. No country is named -- but it might be Norway. No person nor persons are named -- but their types are truly drawn. Mayor Orden stands as a hero with none of the trappings of heroism. Curseling, the traitor, epitomizes the Quislings of the world. And the story? A tale of the unnamed men and women who are breaking the morale of the conquering beast with silence, hate, mass resentment, and the use of weapons forged by imagination and passion while the weapons of the enemy become powerless to break their strength, their unity of anger. An extraordinary achievement.… (more)
raton-liseur: Publiés la même année (1942) et en français par le même éditeur (les Editions de Minuit), ces courts récits portent tous deux un regard original sur la relation entre l’occupant et l’occupé, redonnent un visage humain aux protagonistes du conflit et délivrent, quoique de façon différente, un message de dignité et de fidélité aux principes humanistes.… (more)
Steinbeck is perhaps not as widely known for writing books like this - when we think of Steinbeck, we might think of the Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men - and yet this is a little masterpiece really, a tale of an unnamed town in an unnamed country resisting invasion. Excellent. ( )
"The Moon Is Down": One of Steinbeck's more worthwhile reads. Would recommend for teenage readers. Themes: war, occupation, resistance, and the "unbreakable human spirit". (Fiona)
I'm pretty sure that Americans should read this book a few times. Steinbeck clearly outlines the futility of occupying a town (country) full of people who love their land and feel that they are a free people. I wonder why this book isn't used in our schools. Things that make you go, “Hmmm.”
Edit: I'm now reading [b:Once There Was a War|4800|Once There Was a War|John Steinbeck|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348516021l/4800._SY75_.jpg|551523] and found that Steinbeck wrote this as WWII propaganda for the OSS (CIA). I wish that I could feel good about that. ( )
This is an excellent short novel about conquest and war, the costs and challenges of invasion and conquest, and what free people can do to resist being conquered. ( )
... one of the tendencies of the military mind and pattern is an inability to learn, an inability to see beyond the killing which is its job.
We trained our young men for victory and you've got to admit they're glorious in victory, but they don't quite know how to act in defeat.
They think that just because they have only one leader and one head, we are all like that. They know that ten heads lopped off will destroy them, but we are a free people; we have as many heads as we have people, and in a time of need leaders pop up among us like mushrooms.
Last words
And Winter nodded slowly. "Yes, you remembered. The debt shall be paid."
This seems a simple -- almost an obvious book -- until its overtones and undertones begin to do their deadly work. Then one realizes that, compact in less than 200 pages, is the story of what is happening to the conquerors and the conquered the world over, today. The yeast of freedom, of democracy, the soul of unconquerable man, is working to destroy those who deny freedom. No country is named -- but it might be Norway. No person nor persons are named -- but their types are truly drawn. Mayor Orden stands as a hero with none of the trappings of heroism. Curseling, the traitor, epitomizes the Quislings of the world. And the story? A tale of the unnamed men and women who are breaking the morale of the conquering beast with silence, hate, mass resentment, and the use of weapons forged by imagination and passion while the weapons of the enemy become powerless to break their strength, their unity of anger. An extraordinary achievement.
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"Free men cannot start a war, but once it is started, they can fight on in defeat." This compelling, dignified and moving novel was inspired by and based upon the Nazi invasion of neutral Norway. Set in an imaginary European mining town, it shows what happens when a ruthless totalitarian power is up against an occupied democracy with an overwhelming desire to be free.
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Steinbeckathon 2012: The Moon is Down
Wikipedia in English (1)
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