The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck

was published in 1942 in the heat of WW ll,

as European countries under occupation were tossed

 a rescue rope in the form of a

fable written by one of America’s greatest writers.

The Moon Is Down is a masterpiece against

war and oppression and for passive resistance.

We need more literature about peace and this novel

 especially highlights a blueprint for how to

 overcome bullies of any stripe.

Even as an English major I had not known

about this book and that is a crying shame.

The Moon Is Down should be in English and

History curriculums in high school and college

 because Steinbeck’s little novel (only 112 pages)

 became a worldwide phenomenon during the war.

The novel was attacked on its literary merit

and labeled propaganda, but that is moot

 considering the impact it had in European occupied countries.

The Moon Is Down gave them hope and the incentive to resist 

the Nazi evil despite the fact that Steinbeck never identified

 the little village it was set in or who the invaders were

 which made it magically universal.
One thought stood out as theme: "..  the herd men win battles and
the free men who win wars." That, in my humble opinion is why we
Americans have been able to smack down fascism over the last
several wars.

My respect for John Steinbeck and his work continues to grow. 

A writer who was once accused of being a communist and had

 his books burned endured and proved the power of art to heal.

  I highly recommend this little gem.

 I checked mine out from my local library.

Raintreepoet, reporting.