Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.94 You Save: $0.05 (1%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.10 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Darkness at Noon
Book Review: A synthesis of the lives of a number of men who were victims
Summary: 4 Stars
Darkness at Noon, though often overlooked as one of a 20th century classics, stands as a significant fictional portrayal of the nightmarish politics of our time. The protagonist, Rubashov, is an aging revolutionary who was once a partisan commander and is imprisoned by the Party to which he had unconditionally and loyally dedicated his life. The book closely follows Rubashov's arrest and his agonized reflections throughout his imprisonment.Through the reminiscence of a skein of characters, Rubashov re-lived his Party career that embodied the terrible ironies and human betrayals of a totalitarian movement masking itself as an instrument of deliverance. The book is meant to be a piece of fiction-a monologue of Rubashov's excruciating reflection of his party career, but reads like a social commentary and historical account as Rubashov is a synthesis of the lives of a number of men who were victims of the Moscow Trials.
Darkness at Noon lays out some of the most inveterate principles of a Communist regime: the Party embodies the will of history even though history itself maybe proven to be defective. The authority of the Party could never be questioned or challenged or else the Party will settle such disparity with death. In other words, the Party prohibits any swerve from its ideals-some theoretical future of happiness that is unattainable save for Party members can envision.
As interrogation proceeds, Rubashov is coerced to confess preposterous crimes that he never committed. False accusations are brought forth against him to the point such accusations wreck his nerves. Though Rubashov curtly denies committing any subversive acts in the industry entrusted to him, the accusation simply defines his motive as counter-revolutionary and that he had been in service of a hostile foreign power.
Darkness at Noon exposes the bone-chilling tactics the Party operates-it operates without scruples nor accommodation, never caters to any individual needs. The movement is like a river with bends that those who are not ready accommodate the river flow will be inevitably washed ashore. The book also outlines the psychological strategy that such regime uses to manipulate prisoners. A dark tale indeed. 4.0 stars.
2004 (2)
Book Review: A tale of faith twisted into something evil.
Summary: 5 Stars
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is easy to forget that for fifty years, it was both vital and hostile. This novel was written during the days when Stalin's Soviet Union was a threat to the west, and it is partly a document of that time. Comrade Rubasov, the protagionist, is an old Bolshevik; a man so loyal to the party that he will allow it to destroy him, if it serves its intrests. Koestler develops Rubasov's pyschology so completely; that his eventual confession to totally ridiculous charges during one of Stalin's purges, seems completely reasonable in light of his unlimited devotion to his revolutionary ideals. Koestler's insight into the mind of a committed revolutionary gives the novel its universal weight.Middle eastern terrorists, the Shining Path in Peru, and Timothy McVeigh; are all examples of people so committed to an ideal that anything is justified to advance it. Koestler writes about the narrow boundary between belief, and fanaticism. Dark, somber, lovelyBook Review: Actually, Clinton makes a good Rubashov . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
. . . up to a point. Like Clinton, Rubashov persecuted his enemies ruthlessly and systematically, using the oppressive machinery of the state. Like Clinton, Rubashov abused his authority over underlings for sexual satisfaction. Like Clinton, Rubashov sacrificed others for his own comfort and political goals. Like Clinton, Rubashov was dedicated to a totalitarian ideal to the exclusion of the humane. Like Clinton, Rubashov flirted with betrayal of his country for personal gain.
However, Rubashov and Clinton differ in important ways. In his youthful years, Clinton never put himself in harm's way to advance his idealism. Clinton never confessed to his crimes. Clinton has not yet realized the error of a political philosophy that aggrandizes the state in the name of the people. Clinton still has his faithful, Flavor-Aid-drinking cadres to back him up. Clinton has not yet perceived the cosmic justice of his legal predicament. And Clinton has never given up on revenge.
2007 UPDATE TO MY 2000 REVIEW: In Clinton's case, the wolf devoured himself.
Book Review: An Enriching Experience
Summary: 5 Stars
Darkness at Noon deals with isolation and imprisonment. It characterizes the political prisoner and what it meant to get caught by the state in communist Russia. There is close attention to the psychological degeneration and reassertions of the main character as he forms and loses hope. This book is truly compelling and deep -- well worth your time, to say the least. Two weeks after finishing it, it remains on my mind. Also recommended: Invisible Man by Ellison, The Losers' Club by Richard PerezBook Review: An Important Book
Summary: 5 Stars
This novel is an inside look at the Communist Party in the 1930s, during the Purges and the rise of Fascism in Europe. Koestler is very subtle in his writing, weaving in religious images which reinforces the idea of the Party as a replacement religion for the Left, with Stalin as its Pope, the promised Socialist utopia as heaven and being thrown out of the Party as excommunication. The book looks at the logic of the protagonist's mind as he looks at the mechanism that the Communist Party became, a creaking bureaucratic machine which crushed the individual.
A great book. It should be required reading in High School.