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A review by zfeig
The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
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.
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.