The Breaking Point - Stephen Koch

I've returned, the comics still haven't arrived. I am becoming concerned. So in the meantime, books! And movies later in the week!

Stephen Koch's The Breaking Point is ostensibly about how the death of Jose Rolbes during the Spanish Civil War helped destroy the friendship between Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos. Since Robles' death took place during the Spanish Civil War (when he was taken from his home in the middle of the night with no explanation, and never seen again), Koch discusses that conflict, and the time both Hemingway and Dos spent in country. Since Dos Passos was a member of the Popular Front (an anti-fascist organization) who was falling out of favor at the same moment the Front courted Hemingway as a spokesman, Koch discusses the Front, how it was manipulated by Comintern agents of Stalin's. And since Stalin's somewhat involved, Koch discusses to what ends Stalin was involving himself in the Spanish Civil War.

All of which is to say the book feels a bit unfocused. After reading it, I was left uncertain as to the central theme. In theory it's the relationship between Dos and Hem (as they are frequently called in the book), and how different factors wrecked it, but with all the other things Koch discusses, one could be forgiven for losing track of that.

It's an engaging book. If nothing else, it's piqued my interest in the Spanish Civil War (and I regret not grabbing some of my dad's books on the topic). Koch does editorialize a bit, and seems a bit vicious towards Hemingway. Not that Hemingway doesn't deserve it; but Hemingway's actions speak for themselves. Koch could have saved some time with his armchair psychology*. He's written another book about how Stalin and his propaganda agents used various writers to help sell the Soviet party line, and it feels like he's still grinding that axe.

* Right before Hemingway tells Dos the bullshit story that Robles was executed for being a fascist spy, which he heard from another writer operating as a tool of Spanish officials, there's a picture taken of the two of them with some other local dignitaries. Koch describes Hemingway as having a vicious, hate-filled expression on his face, and says his eyes dare you to judge him for what he knows he's about to do. Koch fails to include a copy of that photo anywhere in the book so that one might judge for themselves.