Official Review: Mitchell's Revenge by Micheal O'Flaherty
Posted: 11 Oct 2015, 15:12
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mitchell's Revenge" by Micheal O'Flaherty.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Frank Mitchell is on the search for the man named Wilbur Prowse, someone who had killed Frank`s wife Sally. But he decided to make a short stop at Atlas, a small town in Texas where his friend Ger lives. By visiting Ger, Frank hopes that he would be able to set himself free from “the constant, smothering feelings of hatred and uselessness and guilt” he had suffered from the day Sally was killed. His stay in Atlas has extended into something more than just visiting an old friend. Soon Frank encounters with Mark Taylor, the local gangster, who has bought or snatched an entire town, including its land, people and cattle. There is no law in Atlas. Mark Taylor is the law. Of course, Frank Mitchell must take his responsibility to restore the order in the town. Especially after he had rescued and fallen in love with Julia. Coincidentally, Julia is Taylor`s step-daughter.
Micheál O`Flaherty has classified Mitchell`s Revenge as the west novella, and it is the first in the series. This short book features many elements of the traditional westerns. One of the book`s themes is confiscation of the territorial rights (or snatching somebody else`s land, in other words). A wandering hero takes justice into his hands. The book is full of the scenes of gambling, drinking and gun fighting. And there is a damsel in distress, so to speak.
But Mitchell`s Revenge is not an average west novella. First of all, the book has complicated narrative style. The story is switching between the third-person narration, told by various characters, and the first-person voice of Frank Mitchell. I had been debating with myself whether or not such a complicated approach was sensible to use in the westerns. I don`t know. However, once I got used with the switching in the narrative voice, I liked it.
I am not sure about the title, though. Perhaps, in the books that follow Micheál O`Flaherty will develop the theme of revenge a little further, but this novella`s main theme is survival.
The theme of survival had been particularly well-developed in Chapter Nine, my favourite chapter of the book. As I mentioned above, the major part of the book is written in a typical westerns style. But certainly what makes this book stand out from the average simple westerns is Chapter Nine, which is dedicated to the Great Irish Famine. This chapter is the story within the story, and it is very different from the rest of the book. It has a slower pace; the narrative becomes more observational; the language turns to more complex mode; the characters appear from the pages as well-developed, real people. The themes of brutality and survival, love and dedication are revealed to their full potential. One might say that this chapter does not quite belong to the west novella. It is a historical fiction, and a very good one. In my opinion, this chapter, this intruder, reveals a lot about Frank Mitchell`s character. And, in a very subtle way, it discloses some background material for the better understanding of Wild West too – it explains why those brave people, those pioneers had arrived in America in the first place. In my opinion, Chapter Nine is the gem of the book.
I will recommend Mitchell`s Revenge to the fans of the traditional westerns, to the readers who don`t mind if tradition is transformed a little. With pleasure, I will rate the book with 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Mitchell's Revenge
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Frank Mitchell is on the search for the man named Wilbur Prowse, someone who had killed Frank`s wife Sally. But he decided to make a short stop at Atlas, a small town in Texas where his friend Ger lives. By visiting Ger, Frank hopes that he would be able to set himself free from “the constant, smothering feelings of hatred and uselessness and guilt” he had suffered from the day Sally was killed. His stay in Atlas has extended into something more than just visiting an old friend. Soon Frank encounters with Mark Taylor, the local gangster, who has bought or snatched an entire town, including its land, people and cattle. There is no law in Atlas. Mark Taylor is the law. Of course, Frank Mitchell must take his responsibility to restore the order in the town. Especially after he had rescued and fallen in love with Julia. Coincidentally, Julia is Taylor`s step-daughter.
Micheál O`Flaherty has classified Mitchell`s Revenge as the west novella, and it is the first in the series. This short book features many elements of the traditional westerns. One of the book`s themes is confiscation of the territorial rights (or snatching somebody else`s land, in other words). A wandering hero takes justice into his hands. The book is full of the scenes of gambling, drinking and gun fighting. And there is a damsel in distress, so to speak.
But Mitchell`s Revenge is not an average west novella. First of all, the book has complicated narrative style. The story is switching between the third-person narration, told by various characters, and the first-person voice of Frank Mitchell. I had been debating with myself whether or not such a complicated approach was sensible to use in the westerns. I don`t know. However, once I got used with the switching in the narrative voice, I liked it.
I am not sure about the title, though. Perhaps, in the books that follow Micheál O`Flaherty will develop the theme of revenge a little further, but this novella`s main theme is survival.
The theme of survival had been particularly well-developed in Chapter Nine, my favourite chapter of the book. As I mentioned above, the major part of the book is written in a typical westerns style. But certainly what makes this book stand out from the average simple westerns is Chapter Nine, which is dedicated to the Great Irish Famine. This chapter is the story within the story, and it is very different from the rest of the book. It has a slower pace; the narrative becomes more observational; the language turns to more complex mode; the characters appear from the pages as well-developed, real people. The themes of brutality and survival, love and dedication are revealed to their full potential. One might say that this chapter does not quite belong to the west novella. It is a historical fiction, and a very good one. In my opinion, this chapter, this intruder, reveals a lot about Frank Mitchell`s character. And, in a very subtle way, it discloses some background material for the better understanding of Wild West too – it explains why those brave people, those pioneers had arrived in America in the first place. In my opinion, Chapter Nine is the gem of the book.
I will recommend Mitchell`s Revenge to the fans of the traditional westerns, to the readers who don`t mind if tradition is transformed a little. With pleasure, I will rate the book with 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Mitchell's Revenge
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like chytach18-'s review? Post a comment saying so!
