Little Kingdoms (Southwest Life and Letters)

This book answers the question of what happened to the modern writer: He moved West. Little Kingdoms is a contemporary example of craftsmanship and care in writing. The sincerity of voice, found in both the criminal and the civilian, is astounding in its accuracy, and remarkable in its consistancy. The story's topic, a prison break and manhunt, is just as pertinent and compelling as it was upon publication. As are its characters; a sheriff and the men he pursues: a psychopath, an "outlaw," and a idiot bound together in desperation. There's no greater joy than discovering an unknown masterpiece, and that is exactly what you will find with this book.

Set against the lawlessness and the rectitude of Texas, this story creates a curious empathy with an escaped convict as he rambles across the landscape with an idiot and a psychopath. As this trio murders, rapes, and robs imperfect people, Irsfeld tells much of the story from the point of view of each of the criminals, creating at once a sense of dignity and disgust. In the fine tradition of William Faulkner, Little Kingdoms is a wonderful novel and a great contribution to serious fiction.

I found this book riveting. The characters are real enough to remind me of people I have met while I was a young soldier stationed in the South. For those who admire the literary style of William Faulkner, but who also find it hard to follow, John Irsfeld has preserved the basic Faulkner style, but updated it to make his book hard to put aside, once begun. I have added his book "Little Kingdoms" to my permanent library.