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JOURNAL
April 2006
REDISCOVERING A FORGOTTEN NOVEL
One of her books, forgotten after its publication in 1940, has since been hailed as one of the masterpieces of 20th Century literature. A sprawling, rollercoaster-ride of a novel about a troubled family living in abject poverty during the 1930s in Baltimore, "The Man Who Loved Children" is unlike any other book I've ever read and, if you can get through it, it will stay with you for a lifetime.
This gem was rediscovered in 1965 by respected critic Randall Jarrell, and he praised it in a long piece for The Atlantic Monthly. After that write-up, 1200 copies of the novel were sold in one week, and it has remained in print ever since. I am lucky enough to have a professor, Barry Wallenstein, who has to be one of the most eclectic readers on the planet. He introduced this book to us as part of our 20th Century Fiction class, and we students could not stop talking about it.
Professor Wallenstein says, rightly, that the novel "is more important now than it was in 1940."
What makes it great?
Well, for one thing, the author is absolutely fearless. She gives us an unstinting view of poverty that will bring tears to your eyes. The story can be seen as a scathing indictment of the trap of marriage for a woman — radically feminist even now. Stead gives new meaning to the word "dysfunctional family" long before that became a catchphrase. The language the family members spew at each other is raw and violent. The dialogue of the main characters — from Henny's harangues to Sam's baby-talk to Louie's precocious poetry — and even the minor ones, never seems anything less than authentic.
While these themes — poverty, survival, abuse, violence — may not send you running to the bookstore, I assure you, you've never seen these difficult themes treated this way in any other text. Her vision is unique, her use of the written word astounding. While it is acknowledged that her novel is largely autobiographical, Stead created a work of art that transcended any memoir she may have written.
Is the novel a classic because it is perfect? By no means. In many ways, it's rather a mess: long, crackling speeches; letters; a play-within-a-play (reminiscent of "Hamlet"); minor, colorful characters who came and go throughout the 500-plus pages; unexpected changes of setting; changing points of view; and analysis. But somehow the mix comes together to make a greater whole. It's a coming-of-age story and a family saga all in one.
While Stead was able to enjoy the revived interest in her novel late in life, the recognition wasn't enough to make her rich or a household name. A collection of her stories was issued in 1979 but that, too, went largely unread. Only after her death, when there was a re-examination of women writers and two volumes of her letters appeared, and then two well-regarded biographies, did attention fall back on Christina Stead.
Now, if enough of us speak up about this important book, Christina Stead's "The Man Who Loved Children" may well end up being the "Moby Dick" of the 20th Century — a book that was considered a forgotten failure during Herman Melville's lifetime.
Somewhere, finally at rest after a hard life, Christina Stead must be smiling.
What's Your Opinion?
KevScoHall@Verizon.net