Reviews

This is the most fascinating Steinbeck novel you've never heard of. The Moon is down came out in 1942, just as the US was joining world war II and the Allies were losing. It's the story of a town taken over by Nazis told mostly from a Nazi perspective.

Steinbeck wrote this book as propaganda aimed to boost morale in occupied Europe. However, when the book came out, he was lambasted in the domestic press for writing a book that was 'soft on Nazis.' He continued to face acrimony at home for the remainder of the war.

Meanwhile, abroad in Nazi occupied Netherland, Poland, Sweden, Norway, France and Belgium as well as Japanese occupied China. The book was translated, printed and reprinted, secretly mimeographed, and used as fundraising for resistance movements. When the war ended, this book was one of the first books to be printed.

The book is a powerful piece of propaganda, and applies to any occupied people.

al_story's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

andreea27's review against another edition

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4.0

Desi a fost scris ca propaganda literara in favoarea democratiei si libertatii, talentul literar al lui Steinbeck nu a putut sa nu isi lase amprenta asupra acestui mic text. Intr-un orasel anonim sub ocupatia armatei unei alte natiuni anonime, impactul dintre totalitarism si democratie este aproape palpabil. Personajele, desi conturate intr-un numar relativ mic de pagini, reusesc sa intruchipeze idei, convingerile unor mase complet diferite de oameni - cine crede in libertate si cine crede in conducerea unui singur om. O lectura scurta care urmareste efectele invaziei atat asupra celor ocupati, cat si a ocupantilor.

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