The Plight of the Radical’s Children
A new novel by Harriet Clark, the daughter of a jailed revolutionary, shows that rigid ideology is no match for the humanizing presence of a child.
TL;DR
- The Russian Revolution attempted to dissolve the family unit, arguing that class bonds should supersede family loyalties.
- Harriet Clark's novel 'The Hill' is based on her experience growing up as the daughter of a jailed member of the Weather Underground.
- The novel portrays the protagonist, Suzanna, navigating her childhood amidst the remnants of her family's radical political past.
- Clark treats politics as an exhausted subject, focusing on character development and the enduring strength of human relationships.
- The story highlights the inevitable decay of pure ideology when confronted by the presence and needs of children.
- The novel's structure follows Suzanna from age 8 to 18 as she forms her own family and identity, eventually choosing her own life over rigid familial vows.
- The article draws parallels between the early Soviet attempts to break up families and the fractured families of American radicals.
- Yuri Slezkine's 'The House of Government' is cited, suggesting that revolutions are ultimately 'devoured' by the children of revolutionaries due to persistent familial love.