This year in Anaheim at the American Library Association (ALA) convention, among several worthy titles, I picked up a copy of The Given Day by Dennis Lehane.
The book comes out on September 23rd, 2008. At the bottom of the cover, the inscription "New York Times bestselling author of mystic river" caught my eye.
The front flap--rather than reveal the story's details--was a short letter from Jane Friedman at WilliamMorrow.
"In The Given Day we discover a new Dennis--one who has crafted a literary tour de force," Friedman wrote. "Brilliantly written, expertly plotted, rich with historical detail and sense of place, this is a book whose themes continue to resonate."
At the time, I admit to wondering if any book could live up to that hype. I opened the covers and turned to the prologue: "Babe Ruth in Ohio."
Ten days later, when I had finished the galley--the book was impossible to put down--I was a believer. Dennis Lehane had written something amazing. When I asked him about the novel as part of my Ask the Writer series, he brushed aside the question with a joke.
"I would strongly recommend nobody ever attempt a historical epic," Lehane says. "It's for crazy people. Way too much hard work. I'm glad it's done. I hope it's good."
In fact, the book is good. Very, very good.
Set in Boston at the end of the 1917, The Given Day brings to life a forgotten era in American history. Woodrow Wilson is the president of the United States. Calvin Coolidge is the governor of Massachusetts. The narrative follows two families: one white, one black. This is a time when one world is dying and another world is not yet born; a time of revolutions, terrorism, plagues, reds, anarchists, fear, and social upheaval. To even a casual reader, the parallels to our own time may be familiar. With good reason, Lehane says, although he can't take all the credit.
"The parallels reared their head very early," Lehane says. "I had no hand in that; the gods wrapped me a gift. All I had to do was put it to paper; editorializing or commenting on the parallels in any fashion would have been redundant. History proves that, time and time again, fear or the perception of powerlessness produces fascist impulses in people and societies. The more afraid you are, the more vicious and infantile you usually become. I don't think I say anything revolutionary in that regard with The Given Day, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be said and said as much as possible."
Social commentary aside, The Given Day is a terrific story--historical fiction at its finest. Dennis Lehane keeps the pace moving fast enough to satisfy a restless mind and slow enough to explore hidden agendas and emotions in each person he creates (or resurrects). With so much research, detail, and historical fact, Lehane never once falls into the trap of becoming professorial. Even in today's fast-paced society, The Given Day will hold its own among films, blogs, and television as a work of entertainment. The writing in The Given Day is artistic without sacrificing function. Lehane keeps tight control over his sprawling epic, treating each character with the proper respect and distance. It's been a long time since I read a novel so well written. I can't go on at length without revealing too much of the plot or the characters--so I won't. This is a book you should pick up and read for yourself.
