The Grass Harp

THE GRASS HARP

by Truman Capote

 

Nomination: National Book Finalist 1952

 

Date Read: April 21, 2021

 

Having always been enamored with the South, I found this novel a slow drawled homage to a South most will never know. Collin, a twelve year old orphan, goes to live with his two female cousins, Verena and Dolly Talbo. While Dolly is regarded as crazy, Verena is a force of nature who becomes involved with a questionable character named Morris. Add in Catherine, a black house girl and Collin is veritably smothered in the fluttering attentions of southern affection.

 

Drama ensues when Dolly is unsupportive of the idea of Verena and Morris bottling and selling Dolly’s very own dropsy remedy, essentially stealing it out from under her nose. In sheer protest, Dolly, Collin and Catherine go to live in a tree house, where they are sought by Verena and the law. The three, however, find long-sought adventure and entertainment. Morris, of course, is nowhere to be found, having absconded with all of the funds to start their business.

 

While the premise of this novella is fun enough, only through Capote’s wit and language do these characters breathe life. The prose is fluid and rich, painting a picture of a south that I long to visit but I fear only exists on these pages.

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