Joe Hill

THIS IS, CONTRARY TO SOME OF THE REVIEWS (ONE WONDERS IF THEY ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK) A SUPERB HISTORICAL NOVEL AND QUITE CLOSE TO THE REALITY OF WHO JOE HILL WAS. AT BEST HE WAS A TERRIBLY CONFUSED MALCONTENT, AT WORST A PREDITORY PSYCHOPATH USING THE LABOR MOVEMENT THE WAY CRIMINALS OFTEN USED THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND OTHER GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENTS FOR THEIR OWN DESIRES. THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY IS MUCH EASIER ON HILL THAN GIBBS IN HIS BOOK AND ONE IS NEVER QUITE SURE IF JOE WAS GUILTY (HE WAS, WITHOUT A DOUBT). THE BOOK IS WELL WORTH READING.

Of course it's not factual history! All these reviewer smashing the book because they didn't get history out of it need to look more closely. The front cover states that the book is "a biographical novel." And if you read the back cover, it says that the author is "blending fact with fiction" to tell a good story. In other words, it's not history, it's a fictional story based on a true story. So it never claims to be a history. It's not the author's fault the readers are oblivious to the clear subtitle of the book indicating it's a "novel." As a novel and a story, it's pretty darn good.

Wallace Stegner's novel attempts to strip away the layers of mythology created around songwriter, artist and organiser Joe Hill. Taciturn Swedish sailor, fervent Wobbly, possible murderer, victim of conspiracy and, ultimately, willing martyr - all these aspects of the legendary Trade Unionist are explored in an effort to get to grips with the "real" Joe Hill. Stegner has tried to penetrate the conventional IWW mythology around Hill, refusing to accept the simplistic interpretation of an innocent man fitted up by the law. Instead, the Joe Hill he writes of is human, multidimensional - possibly guilty but a flawed hero nonetheless. Stegner explores the creation of a martyr andthe creation of a myth. Reading the story of Hill adds a poignancy and human dimension to the formulaic elegies of folksong and syndicalist tradition.