The Amalgamation Polka

"The Amalgamation Polka" (2006) is the fourth novel by writer Stephen Wright. The setting of novel is during the time of the Civil War of the United States. The plot is wrapped around the story of Liberty Fish and his travels after joining the Union army.

"The New York Times" has compared the story to the obvious "Heart of Darkness", but has said the following as well: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is a better bet (on the plot). Most of the people Liberty meets (and not just in the South) are what the Cheshire Cat would call 'mad,' from a shaggy hermit to the Georgia farmer who secedes from the Confederacy by reclaiming his little plot of land in the name of the Union."

The story is not only about Liberty Fish but, also about his mother Roxana Fish. Without her the story would not make sense. For example she told Liberty stories about her childhood home, Redemption Hall in South Carolina. She explained the horrible things that happened to the slave and how she always wanted to escape. Liberty would not know about Redemption Hall or his grandfather Asa Maury without the stories told by his mother.

External links

* [http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780679451174 Random House summary]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/books/review/19miller.html?_r=1&oref=slogin The New York Times review] (includes a five minute reading from Wright)