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marknemeth's review
4.0
The only reason I know this book exists is that it’s mentioned (under its British title, Israel Kalisch) in Saki’s story “The Stalled Ox.” The author, Walter Lionel George, was reasonably popular in his time, but, since I’m the first person to review or rate this book, it appears his popularity has failed to endure. That’s a shame; I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of George’s writing, and I think he’s worthy of something much better than fading to complete obscurity.
Until the Day Break begins as a fairly typical story of a turn-of-the-19th-century Eastern European immigrant coming to America, but it then abruptly, though somehow smoothly, follows its protagonist’s immersion in the Anarcho-Socialist community, which leads him to London, where most of the novel is set. It’s evident that the author had extensive knowledge of the various Socialist, Trade Unionist, and Anarchist movements that existed in the early 1900s, and it’s interesting to read such intense focus on something that most of us know only from maybe half a class period of a survey course in history. Furthermore, some of the characters’ critiques of various economic systems seem startlingly prescient; it’s occasionally hard to believe that the book was published in 1913, since, for example, it correctly anticipates many of the practical consequences of implementing totalitarian Socialism, as later occurred in the USSR.
George’s descriptive writing is crisp and beautiful. His characters are sharply drawn and distinct from one another, and he manages to make them seem both archetypal and nuanced. Though the plot sometimes veers toward melodrama, the characters’ temperaments and motivations all seem consistent with their backgrounds and intellects. There is continual humor, which arises organically through situations the characters encounter; it never feels forced or pointedly inserted for comic relief. Also, for a book about a bunch of deadly serious Anarchists, there are moments of surprising tenderness.
Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit. I’d give it about 4.3 stars if we weren’t stuck with Goodreads’ overly granular rating system. Also, if anyone I know wants to read this, I’ll be happy to give you my copy; let’s drag Walter Lionel George back into the public eye!
Until the Day Break begins as a fairly typical story of a turn-of-the-19th-century Eastern European immigrant coming to America, but it then abruptly, though somehow smoothly, follows its protagonist’s immersion in the Anarcho-Socialist community, which leads him to London, where most of the novel is set. It’s evident that the author had extensive knowledge of the various Socialist, Trade Unionist, and Anarchist movements that existed in the early 1900s, and it’s interesting to read such intense focus on something that most of us know only from maybe half a class period of a survey course in history. Furthermore, some of the characters’ critiques of various economic systems seem startlingly prescient; it’s occasionally hard to believe that the book was published in 1913, since, for example, it correctly anticipates many of the practical consequences of implementing totalitarian Socialism, as later occurred in the USSR.
George’s descriptive writing is crisp and beautiful. His characters are sharply drawn and distinct from one another, and he manages to make them seem both archetypal and nuanced. Though the plot sometimes veers toward melodrama, the characters’ temperaments and motivations all seem consistent with their backgrounds and intellects. There is continual humor, which arises organically through situations the characters encounter; it never feels forced or pointedly inserted for comic relief. Also, for a book about a bunch of deadly serious Anarchists, there are moments of surprising tenderness.
Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit. I’d give it about 4.3 stars if we weren’t stuck with Goodreads’ overly granular rating system. Also, if anyone I know wants to read this, I’ll be happy to give you my copy; let’s drag Walter Lionel George back into the public eye!
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