12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An American Novel in the French Making, September 23, 2002
This review is from: The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication (Paperback)
I must state that one of the main reasons I laid my hands on this "fabrication" was that I wanted to see how John Steinbeck handled satire and humor, which are far cries from the drama of his more famous works "Of Mice and Men" and "The Grapes of Wrath." He did not fail me. "The Short Reign of Pippin IV" is engrossing and, of course to a certain extent, funny. The characters (even though they show hints of borrowed traits from Steinbeck's other wide range of characters) are fresh.
M. Pippin Arnulf Heristal: A French amateur astronomer and codiscoverer of the Elysee Comet, Pippin is of the holy blood of Charlemagne who resides at the novel's opening in Number One Avenue de Marigny in Paris with Marie, his solidly, bourgeois wife, and Clotilde, his 20-year-old daughter in revolt "against everything she could think of."
Charles Martel: As Pippin's uncle, he offers advice to his nephew in "matters spiritual and temporal" while being a genteel dealer in unsigned paintings, other art and bric-a-brac, and loans on the side.
Tod Johnson: Clotilde's American suitor on tour in France is the son of the Egg King in Petaluma and occasionally spews out suggestions to Pippin for handling power.
The story is quite simple. Pippin is pressured by French political leaders in the year of 19-- to accept the crown of France because of his birthright. The poor fellow just wants to record cosmic showers and dwell in the peace of his family. Yet it is not so easy to reject the notion since he is told that France needs him, and who can ignore that? It seems a coincidence that all 42 political sections decide to support monarchy "for different reasons beneficial to" themselves. So Pippin and his family move into Versailles along with 200 penniless aristocrats. And that is where Pippin takes his role seriously as king much to the chargrin of the delegates (and his wife who feels left out and goes to Sister Hyacinthe for advice). In the few months of his rule, the king tries desperately to understand his subjects' conditions and to discern the relationships among power, corruption, and fear. Exactly how Pippin's reign ends in France is a worldly lesson to all on what "the good life" is. As Uncle Charlie warns Pippin,"When a pawn tries to do the work of the government--then the pawn is a fool."
"The Short Reign of Pippin IV" is a masterful novel of events that could have occured with the welcome of witty humor. Who knew that a monarchy could be run like that of a corporation with stockholders? Despite the fact this novel is fiction, it conveys a message that is closer to the truth in the realm of politics and government and that in itself is frightening. --P.J. Persad
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A frenchman's short struggle with the country at his feet, September 21, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication (Paperback)
I stumbled upon this book while looking for more reading on John Steinbeck. This easy read is short and charming. Pippin finds himself suddenly crowned as king after France decides to resort to monarchy. His country does well by him, and eagerly accepts him until he attempts to actually use his power. Not quite "Of Mice and Men" or "The Grapes of Wrath," but an unusual look at the French Revolution turned upside down.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe a minor Steinbeck, but still a very good book, February 5, 2003
This review is from: The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication (Paperback)
Do not be misled by the fact that Steinbeck have written better books, this is indeed a good one.
It is extremely well written and you will go through it fully enjoying the story and the characters. While this book is only a satire, Steinbeck does a very good job in studying the nature of man when politics, power and government are concerned. Even if the author attitude may seem different from his first novels, and while he may seem more cynical and resigned, he is still a very keen observer of a world that has drastically changed from the one he used to describe.
The only (minor) flaw of this book is that sometimes Steinbeck try to go back to his typical epic and evocative style, which seems a bit out of place in a satire such this.
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