when 'The Moon Is Down'

Published in March 1942 The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck hasn't exactly stood the test of time, similar to the movie Red Dawn it focuses on the occupation of a single small town in Northern Europe by a state which is at war with England and Russia obviously referring to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany in World War II, the book even goes on to refer back to Germans humiliation after their defeat in World War I.



While for the time it was published the book was an inspiration showing a discontinued struggle with a growing resistance force of the town against the invaders, the mayor character who is forced to collaborate with the Nazi's stating "to break man’s spirit permanently is impossible!"

The historical background when this book was published was one of significance of the turning point of World War II, Western Europe had been conquered (except for England) and the war in the east was only just beginning to turn against the Nazi's after they were halted at the gates of Moscow and the same month the British launched the St Nazaire Raid.

The book was way before its time and shows the true spirit of man and in the end was right in stating that it would take time but the people would win over the evil presented by fascism, it did what it was written to do, and that was motivate and enthuse the resistance movements in occupied Europe, while it did this history shows (especially in Norway and France) that the will of the people is always stronger than the guns, the tanks and the planes of an evil empire.

Also it's a good book in the context of ordinary human beings and their ability against overwhelming odds to overcome them no matter how oppressed they are or how long it takes.