THE VANTAGE GROUND

by Thomas J. Dulak ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 22, 1970

A disenchanted novel about a strike in a midwestern electrical plant and its rank and file leader, Steve Parker, whose attitudes and style belong to the heydays of the labor movement. Those days are gone, according to the novel, and the workers are not what they used to be. Here they are represented by a full complement of prejudicial types (retarded hillbilly, shiftless nigger, mouthy kike, goonish boy-man, pimply knife-and-leather teenagers) and most of the real tensions--as well as a mindless shooting--arise from the unmanageability of the group. But there is also the strain of Parker's trust that the company (not really present, except in Parker's thoughts and a couple of brief conversations) will play straight, and that his son, a slick, conniving company lawyer, will somehow yet be loyal to him. As it turns out, no one is straight or fair, except Parker and his eventual friend and counterpart McFadden, a sententious, strikebreaking police captain. As Mcfadden points out, there is no longer any leverage but personal interest: the strike won't work because the company isn't suffering; unions won't work because the men are self-seeking and easily bored. Parker is convinced that he should not give a damn, but, ironically, that is just the attitude that enables him to hurt management and rally his forces. Unfortunately he still doesn't give a damn, but the mystery is how anyone could have cared in the first place.

Pub Date: Oct. 22, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dial

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1970

Categories: FICTION