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4.0 out of 5 stars
So much to offer, Nov 26 2001
This novel is the story about the impact of outsiders on a tribe of Indians in the Amazon. Essentially two facets of the outsiders (read Western Civilisation) that are explored ï¿ the ï¿sacredï¿ in the form of missionaries, and the ï¿profaneï¿ in the guise of mercenaries. Their stories told in alternating chapters, Lewis Moon and Martin Quarrier both have a purpose in mind - both feel that they can ï¿saveï¿ the locals that are yet to come in full contact with Western Civilisation. Moon is part Native American, and at the beginning of our story he is a mercenary hired to kill the Indians. On a drug induced flight, he crashes into the jungle and ingratiates himself into the ï¿wildï¿ Indian tribe. His relationship with the tribe is really an extension of his life so far ï¿ he doesnï¿t quite fit in, no matter what he does. Quarrier is an evangelical missionary who has travelled with his wife and child to bring the word of God to Indians. Very early on, however, Quarrier has doubts about his own suitability, and then the broad-spectrum suitability of anyone using trickery to force a belief on the Indians. This brings him into conflict with his co-missionary, who is a stereotype of all that is wrong in the missionary movement ï¿ this character is a man more interested in his own personal reputation and the number of souls he has saved (or it looks like he has saved) than genuine results.This is a well written exploration of ï¿missionaries and misfitsï¿ on the edges of civilisation. We have comparisons of Catholics and Evangelicals; comparisons between missionaries who are there for the greater glory of God (or the idea of God at least) and for the greater glory of their own name; and the attempts by different outsiders to ï¿saveï¿ a tribe from other outsiders, with more concerns for their own agendas than the welfare of those they are trying to save. Oh, and there is some amazingly insightful writing about interpersonal relationships to boot. What I liked best about this book was that Matthiessen spared nobody ï¿ unlike some novels of this genre, the Indians are not simple ï¿noble savagesï¿ ï¿ some are cleverer than others; the Indians arenï¿t all environmentally friendly, in-tune with nature good-guys (Moon takes them for task for their wasteful practices, but they donï¿t care)and Matthiessen takes the time to explain the motivations of his characters, something that can be sorely lacking in some novels. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good novel. For those with an interest in the specific topic area (the Amazon, 'Western' culture meets 'natives', missionaries) there is a lot here (if you liked Poisonwood Bible, i you would probably like this). But even if this is not an area you would naturally gravitate to, i would recommend it on the basis of Matthiessen's great writing alone.One point - the first 4 -6 chapters can be hard going, but stick with it - things pick up. It was for these first chapters that i docked a star (would have given it 4.5 stars if possible).
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by Pico Iyer
