From the back of the book: Erskine Caldwell is one of the most widely read authors of the Twentieth Century with eighty million books sold in over forty languages...Literary scholars have placed Erskine Caldwell with Fitzgerald, Wolfe, and Steinbeck, and William Faulkner considered him one of America's greatest novelists.Having also read God's Little Acre, and Tobacco Road, I can say that Caldwell's often perverted characters and powerful prose are poignant, and at times, painfully so. Accused of writing soft-porn, which is certainly a relative characterization, Caldwell seems determined to expose the cruel and evil aspects of human nature, focusing on the poor and highly prejudiced South of his time.Estherville is no exception, as it follows a mulatto brother and sister who are repeatedly victimized, often sexually, in the very "white" town of Estherville.Again, this notion of man as little more than a self-proclaimed civilized animal (some more civilized than others) whose base drives, unchecked, not only control him but also ultimately corrupt him is nothing new and repeated throughout this book. And as always, his characters show that our convictions about right/wrong are highly influenced by culture and social norms, and while his books center around the South of the 40's and 50's, the basic ideas are still relevant today. Things like racial equality, prejudice, subjugation and exploitation, hate crimes, etc.He doesn't mince words or sugarcoat his message with a make-you-feel-good ending or uplifting plots. Instead, he makes it ugly and sometimes awfully so, although his books do offer a satisfying conclusion even if the redemption is subtle. For the most part, his characters are unsavory sometimes lacking even one redeeming quality, but ultimately effective at showcasing the injustices of a cruel world. So, yeah, I can understand why some people don't enjoy his work.But for me, the writing was wonderful, the characters well constructed, if often unlikeable, and his in-your-face style, effective. In some ways, I am reminded of contemporary writers like Junot Diaz, whose work feels just as raw but more autobiographical. There is also a level of absurdity in Caldwell's books that at times seems almost comical, which is odd if you consider the tragic nature of his characters and their story.I also bought two collections of his short stories and I am even more excited about reading them after completing Estherville.Bottom line: a notable work that's probably not for everyone, but still worthy of recognition nonetheless. It's like eating spinach instead of ice cream when you were a kid. The spinach might not look appetizing and you might not have learned to appreciate it's bitter taste, but that doesn't change the fact that's it's much better for you than the super-sweet vanilla fudge swirl that you would have probably chosen if given the choice. I personally love spinach, at least now, partly because I know it's good for me.
What do You think about Place Called Estherville (1998)?
