The Iron Heel

[kelber at mindspring.com]

I read it a couple-three years ago.  It's got more in common with 1984, in that it's a dystopian novel.  The descriptions of rioting, with both left and right indiscrimnately caught up, is one of the high points of the book.  The weakest part is the one-dimensional hero Everhard -- good-guy visionary, end of story.  I don't see much dialogue with the subtleties of ATD.

Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: Dave Monroe <monropolitan at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Mar 6, 2007 12:48 PM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: The Iron Heel
>
>Jack London, The Iron Heel (1908)
>
>http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/IronHeel/
>
>http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1164
>
>The novel is based on the (fictional) "Everhard
>Manuscript" written by Avis Everhard which she hid and
>which was subsequently found centuries later....
>
>The Manuscript itself covers the years 1912 through
>1932 in which the Oligarchy (or "Iron Heel") arose in
>the United States. In Asia, Japan conquered East Asia
>and created its own empire, India gained independence,
>and Europe become socialist. Canada, Mexico, and Cuba
>formed their own Oligarchies and were aligned with the
>US. (The fates of South America, Africa, and the
>mid-East aren't given.)
>
>[...]
>
>The Oligarchy are the largest monopoly trusts (or
>robber barons) who manage to squeeze out the middle
>class by bankrupting most small to mid-sized business
>as well as reducing all farmers to effective serfdom.
>This Oligarchy maintains power through a "labor caste"
>and the Mercenaries. Labor in essential industries
>like steel and rail are elevated and given decent
>wages, housing, and education. Indeed, the tragic turn
>in the novel (and Jack London's core warning to his
>contemporaries) is the treachery of these favored
>unions which break with the other unions and side with
>the Oligarchy. Further, a second, military caste is
>formed: the Mercenaries. The Mercenaries are
>officially the army of the US but are in fact in the
>employ of the Oligarchs....
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iron_Heel
>
>Any traces thereof in AtD?  Let me know ...
>
>
> 
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