Customer Reviews

Dark Arena, The

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Back in the days when Elvis was suffering the "Hup-two-three-four Occupation GI Blues" and Bing wondered what you did with a general when he stops being a general, an obscure author who would later become the definitive writer of Mob fiction painted us a stark picture of postwar military occupation life. A decade later, on the threshold of the Peace Now era, Joseph Heller would give us "Catch 22", a story of a bomber crewman and his ongoing identity crisis. John Farris' "Glover" was the story of a tough-guy soldier at play in the English countryside. Evan Hunter's "Sons" dealt in part with the issue of bomber crewman and locals in WW II Italy. See the contrast? It was no biggie to be candid during the 'Sixties era about the tendency of occupation soldiers to treat their unwilling hosts as less than people--Gwynne Dyer once said that the only foolproof way of turning a civilian into a fighting man is to include some form of suggestion that the enemy aren't people in his training. But back in the early 'Fifties when this book was written, popular fiction hardly ever approached the issue of American occupation of a defeated enemy from any side but that of the Pentagon. In this story, GI Walter Mosca gets involved in a local shackup arrangement in Germany at the end of WW II, comes home to find that he can no longer relate to the Girl He Left Behind, so he returns to Germany as a civilian employee to seek out the girl he hadn't realized he was falling for. Her effect on him causes him to be a lot more analytical of his own behavior towards the locals in general, that of his colleagues as well--but more than that, it also gives him a view of the perspective of the people he's there to help "keep in line". All sorts of things can happen to a person's worldview when he becomes romantically involved outside his native culture. I have no actual details on which to base this, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the late Mario Puzo drew on his own experiences in service during WW II as source material. He wouldn't be the first.

This is the very first novel the young Mario Puzo wrote during the fifties and he certainly pulled it off. It's not so difficult to notice already the strokes of the unknown, aspiring writer who'd later become undoubtfully one of the best of his generation.

There are many similarities between this novel and some of those of the lost generation writers, the most similar to it being, of course, "A farewell to arms" by Ernest Hemingway. The 20-th century best american writer used to write about people and events taking place during the war, whether it was WW1 or WW2, while Puzo's work is more about war's aftermath and how it affected and changed people's life.

The novel's main character is not as sympathetic or attracting as, let's say, Hemingway's Frederic Henry or Remarque's Gottfried Lenz. I found it somewhat difficult to sympathize with Mosca's slovenly attitude, his lack of feelings or interest in anything or anyone surrounding him, but I understand him, or at least I try to: he slowly understands that his persona has changed, and not for the better, and that he has become the enemy, as he puts it towards the end of the novel; he loves someone (in his own way), but he doesn't know it; his loved one first loses his first child and later gives birth to his second one, but he doesn't seem to care. I think it's interesting to compare Puzo's work to some of Hemingway's novels: while hell to Hemingway was war itself, to Puzo "hell is the suffering of being unable to love!", as the great Dostoyevski puts it in "The brothers Karamazov". And Mosca is unable to love and care about someone or something.

While Hemingway would go on and write mostly about war, fatalism and despair, Puzo would later change his subjects and describe the american corrupt worlds of politics, underworld, the casinos and the movie industry. Later on, his main motto would be to prove that "the secret of a big fortune with no apparent cause is a forgotten crime".

I am a Puzo fan in general, but this book may be his best. He manages to deliver a beautifully crafted tale about a young man in post-WWI Germany. His characters are complex and the novel gives each person a distinct and vivid personality. Going beyond the characters, the setting is surreal and moving. You are placed in a desolate wasteland with crumbling ruins.

Somewhat setting the spirit of "mafia" books which come later in his career, here Puzo does a great job describing the political makeup and inter workings of the occupation government and flourishing black market.

Overall, the book is incredible (perhaps flawless) but like others said, this is not for the weak and weary. The themes get darker and very heavy toward the end. I would describe the reading experience as almost transformative.

Puzo is a master. If you like his other works, read this book.

After reading this book, by Puzo, whom I LOVE, I have come to realize that he sure has come a long way in a few years with his writing. I know that not every book can be a "Godfather", and it's not that the story is uninteresting, but it is not of the calibre that in which one would put such a well-known author like Mario Puzo.

The book takes place in post-WWII Germany. An American soldier is stuck between the world of Reformation Europe and going home to boring America. The main charecter, Mosca, is developed in that he is underdeveloped as a person. The dark arena, in my opinion, is how the depths of this man go literally no further than his own wants and desires. People hasten to believe that there are people like this. It is a good read if you have a week and want to check it out- it is also much shorter than some of his other reads (for good reason).

Like I said, not terrible, but if you need to see how far a writer can come, read this, then read some of his others.

This is not a great book. Even though it is Puzo, who has done some great work, this story is mediocre at best. I have read every work of fiction by Mario Puzo and I would place this one at the bottom of the pile. It's not a terrible book, but you could do a lot better. The story is about post WWII Germany, and an American soldier named Walter Mosca who is stuck in a daydream of post-war reorganization and exploitation. The story is slow at times, and I found my mind wandering a lot during the middle. It comes together nicely at the end, and is certainly well crafted, but I would recommend this book only to Puzo fans, especially to those interested in reading his complete catalogue. That is basically the only reason I read this book, and it is not one I care to read again. Nor is it a story that will live long in my memory.

Mark McGinty is the author of Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy

It was pretty good, even though some parts were boring..

This book is the best book i have ever read period. Im a huge fan of Mario Puzo and read all of his books, at first The Silcian was my favorite Puzo book, then i read The Dark Arena. It deals with a young man coming of age in post war germany and struggling with the tempations around him vs. the family life that he wants to lead. if anyone knows of any similar themed books it would be appreciated.

This is another book by Mario Puzo I am in love with.