The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
1942 / 188 pgs Fiction

The Moon is Down is not one of Steinbeck’s best-known classics.  It starts with the end of an invasion by an Army in a small town.  The invaders are a small force.  However, because the invaded nation enjoyed peace for the last 400 years, they didn’t have a military response.  The entire story is focused on the small town.  The invading force states to the Mayor they are there for only the coal that is needed.  They wish for peace and just require the town citizens to mine the coal.   

The Colonel leaves the Mayor in a title role to show that the people are in charge.  A traitor in the small village wants the Mayor’s position for himself, so he helped the invading army before they arrived with intelligence.  Throughout the story, he connives his way, including going over the Colonel, talking to the Capital to gain authority that he feels he deserves.

During the invasion, an officer is killed ordering a citizen to work in the mines.  This causes the invaders to hold a trial they want the Mayor to preside over.  This is a tactic used to show that the Mayor is in charge and order should be kept in the town.  The Mayor doesn’t comply but shows the convicted his support as his death sentence is carried out.

Citizens escape to England, and help is asked for as resistance is started to make the task impossible for the invaders.  When the resistance begins, the Mayor and town doctor are arrested, and the Mayor is led away for his execution.  The Colonel understands that this is an endless cycle as you kill one leader; another will step-up as long as people resist.

As I read this, I kept thinking that this book was written in the second world war about the resistance.  I discovered that this book was read by French’s Resistance (Norway, Spain, Netherlands, and more). After understanding the impact, I believe that this short story should be read as a book that inspired many to resist the juggernaut that occupied their nation.    

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It is a short read. Only took me about 3 hours to complete. It’s not close to a masterpiece as his other works. However, understanding what it was saying at the time really shows the importance of literature.    

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a good book!

Lopaka