Was it possible to fall asleep in 1997 and arise in 1865? Tony Horwitz stood frozen in awe by his second-story bedroom window. Rubbing the sleep away from his eyes, the dream persisted. Below, on his manicured Virginia lawn, Rebel forces seemed to be winning as the Yankees backed away from the sea of gray. Then, without the slightest warning, the spell was broken by a brash director yelling “Cut!”
Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz, is the result of this early morning invasion. After winning the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1995, Horwitz moved to Waterford, Virginia, to focus on an unrelated book project. It was this spontaneous Civil War scene in his front yard that awakened distant boyhood dreams.
As a child, Horwitz delighted in spending time with his Poppa Isaac and the book of Civil War sketches. The obsession continued to grow as little Tony listened to his father read every night from a ten-volume set The Photographic History of the Civil War.
Horwitz writes, “For me, the fantastical creatures of Maurice Sendak [Where the Wild Things Are] held little magic compared to the man-boys of Mathew Brady who stared back across the century separating their lives from mine.”
Out amongst the morning revelers that day laid another man who grew up dreaming in blue and gray. Robert Lee Hodge, a waiter during peacetime, displayed a rare talent for rolling over and playing dead. Literally, Hodge was being paid by the movie company to do the “bloat,” a maneuver he learned through studying Mathew Brady’s famous Civil War photographs depicting death from battle aftermaths.
Horwitz recalls, “Hodge clutched his stomach and crumpled to the ground. His belly swelled grotesquely, his hands curled, his cheeks puffed out, his mouth contorted in a rictus of pain and astonishment. It was a flawless counterfeit of the bloated corpses photographed at Antietam and Gettysburg that I so often stared at as a child.”
It is the friendship between Horwitz and Hodge that provides comic relief throughout Confederates in the Attic. Readers will find the humor sustains their disbelief during the racism encountered as an uncivil war between black and white emerges.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Confederates in the Attic (copy)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
23 comments:
How funny is it that Hodge has found a second career in such an unusual manner?
Sounds very curious indeed.
This was another book that I mostly read on an airplane (7-8 years ago) and I laughed so hard people were wondering what's going on. You give just enough to get people interested--great review.
Diane, I can hear a director yelling, "Bloater, where's the bloater!" :D
There is a lot to chew on in this book, Jeane.
Thanks Sage. We will be discusing this book at the end of August, and I cain't wait! :D
I think I may be the only person on the planet who hasn't read this book. Mayhaps I need to fix that. Thanks for the review. :-)
I am yet to take up the writing challenge, Maggie!! :( Bought one John G but could not start reading it!
by the way, I hear there are some good writer's retreat programs? Have heard of one in Oregan? Say, would you have an idea?
it was a weird book, but i enjoyed it immensely :)
Ah, now I'm not at the back of the line, Keetha! :) I hope you like it!
Try the Attic, Canary. The reading challenge ends August 15. Better hurry up and read! :)
Reenactments are one of the fastest growing hobbies in America, Erica. Who knew?!? I think I just enjoyed his travels and interaction with everyday folk the most. :)
I just read a review of this on Sage's page. It is on my list to attempt to get from the library. Guess I need to read it since I saw it two places. Sounds hilarious and offbeat. One of my favorite combinations.
The 107F heat index has fried my brain so much, that I thought that this novel was a reverse Rip Van Winkle, after reading the first few sentences of your review.
(And it took me awhile to remember Mr Rip's name. I kept searching for Wee Willie Winkle. I knew Irving wrote the story, but none of the internet entries about him mentioned that fact.)
Great review. Hope my library has it.
Hubby owns this, but I've never read it. I'll probably have to add it to my to-be-read shelves.
Hey thanks, Susie! I forgot Sage had written on this and I'll be sure to link to his work. I'm a little depressed right now so the ending left me raw. I wonder how the discussion will go, and you know you are welcome to come to the meeting. :)
Man, everything slows down in this crazy heat WW100. I'm in a funk, too. We had a cold front come through this afternoon, and we lost yet another pecan tree. My hubby is so frustrated, I'm sure a good dose of Rip sleep would get him back on track. ;D Thanks for the funny.
Wow, just think of the library we could start with our TBR shelves, Medbie! :D
I love to read, too. If you like "Sounder", which I've read, and ever read action adventure stories about young characters in adversity, can I suggest "Outcasts Of Skagaray"? For a preview, there are sample chapters on www.threeswans.com.au I would be very pleased to hear what you think if you decide to read it. My best wishes, whatever happens. I feel at home among people who love books and reading.
Thank you for stopping by and suggesting a book Andrew. I'll look for it on the shelves. :)
That's great, Maggie. All the best and happy reading!
Hi Maggie,
Thanks for this review, I love offbeat books and this one looks good!
Hate to hear you lost another pecan tree!
It's a good one, Sharon! We hate losing the tree, too. It was packed full of pecans and we think the weight added to its demise. :(
What meeting? Discussing what?
We will meet the last Tuesday in the library, Susie. Crystal and I will be tag teaming this book during our monthly reading round table. :)
Looks fascinating. I've added it to my "to read" list!
It is rather fun Holly. :D
Sounds very interesting. The cover picture is a little disturbing though.
The cover engrossed hubby and I during a recent long trip in the car. We could not figure the date of the picture. Old? New meant to look old? We were rather intrigued Jessica. I hope you get a chance to read it one day. It is a wonderful travelogue in which I look forward to our discussion. :)
Post a Comment