Ebook192 pages3 hours
Land of Cockaigne
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this ebook
A novel written as a sharp parable of American society, addressing love, purpose, discrimination, and poverty.
In Jeffrey Lewis’s novel, the Land of Cockaigne, once an old medieval peasants’ vision of a sensual paradise on earth, is reimagined as a plot on the coast of Maine. In efforts to assuage their grief over their son’s death and to make meaning of his life, Walter Rath and Catherine Gray build what they hope will be a version of paradise for a group of young men from the Bronx. As Walter and Catherine work to reinvent this land, formerly a summer resort, the surrounding town of Sneeds Harbor proves resistant. The residents’ well-meaning doubts lead to well-hidden threats, and the Raths’ marriage unravels as Walter loses faith in democracy. Meanwhile, the Bronx boys, who have only ever known the city, try to navigate this new land that is completely alien to them. Written as a parable of contemporary American society, Land of Cockaigne is by turns furious, funny, subversive, tragic, and horrifying. Faced with the question of what to do amid disastrous times, Walter Rath offers a clue: Love is an action, not a feeling. Once you go down this path of faith, there is much to be done.
In Jeffrey Lewis’s novel, the Land of Cockaigne, once an old medieval peasants’ vision of a sensual paradise on earth, is reimagined as a plot on the coast of Maine. In efforts to assuage their grief over their son’s death and to make meaning of his life, Walter Rath and Catherine Gray build what they hope will be a version of paradise for a group of young men from the Bronx. As Walter and Catherine work to reinvent this land, formerly a summer resort, the surrounding town of Sneeds Harbor proves resistant. The residents’ well-meaning doubts lead to well-hidden threats, and the Raths’ marriage unravels as Walter loses faith in democracy. Meanwhile, the Bronx boys, who have only ever known the city, try to navigate this new land that is completely alien to them. Written as a parable of contemporary American society, Land of Cockaigne is by turns furious, funny, subversive, tragic, and horrifying. Faced with the question of what to do amid disastrous times, Walter Rath offers a clue: Love is an action, not a feeling. Once you go down this path of faith, there is much to be done.
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Reviews for Land of Cockaigne
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
3 ratings1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Land of Cockaigne is written by Jeffrey Lewis.It is a pick for Maine Public’s All Books Considered Book Club.The title, Land of Coockaigne refers to the 1567 painting by Peter Bruegel the Elder. It is supposed to represent a ‘vision’ of a sensual paradise on earth. In the Dutch language, Cockaigne means the ‘lazy-tasty land’.The Raths - Walter & Charley (a millionaire tech family) - move to Sneeds Harbor, Maine and raise their son. When he is brutually and senselessly murdered (a car-jacking gone wrong in the Bronx) Mrs. Rath (Charley) envisions their property as a ‘version’ of paradise for young offenders from the Bronx - young offenders that their son, Stephen, worked with at the Bronx Cares Diversionary Action Program. Hence, the title.Having just finished the book, I would give it 4 Stars for the writing and the cleverness of the title. But I must say that it was distressing, depressing and extremely painful to read.Sneeds Harbor could have been any one of a hundred different small towns in Maine. It could have been my small town. I recognize many of my neighbors in this book and while I know (or think I know) what they are capable of - to see it in black and white is devastating. Especially the quotes (and they are true) from former governor Paul Lepage (aka Paul LePuke).
Book preview
Land of Cockaigne - Jeffrey Lewis
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