Review of THE MAGIC KINGDOM by Russell Banks (New Release)

 4 Stars

This is my first book by this American author and I found myself fully engaged with it, perhaps because I recently visited the Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire where I learned more about the Shakers. 

The book is structured as a transcript of audiotapes recorded by Harley Mann, 81, in 1971.  A retired real estate speculator, Harley focuses on his childhood in the early 20^th century, especially his time with the New Bethany Shaker Colony in the part of Florida where the Magic Kingdom Theme Park at Disney World is located.  The commune is led by Elder John Bennett who becomes Harley’s mentor and Eldress Mary Glynn, the community’s spiritual advisor.  Honesty, hard work, equality, and celibacy are guiding principles of the Shakers, which Harley follows until he becomes totally obsessed with Sadie Pratt, a consumptive patient with ties to the Shakers.  Hurt and angry after a tragic event, he takes an action which has a devastating impact on the Shakers and his own life, leaving him with “a lifelong guilty conscience.”

Harley is an interesting character.  After a very difficult time following the death of his father, the Shakers provide him with stability.  He is fed, clothed, and given shelter and an education, though he is expected to work for the commune without remuneration.  He is asked to live by the principles of the Shakers, though he need not become a Shaker; at the age of 21 he would be able to decide whether his future would be amongst the Shakers or in the outside world.  He, however, reacts to a devastating loss by “[tearing] apart the close-woven fabric of love and trust that had kept New Bethany together.”  The reader will feel some sympathy for him, but will also be very frustrated with him.  Of course, Harley pays a heavy price for his betrayal.

The novel’s title is perfect.  It is not so much a reference to Disney World as it is to “the Shakers’ magic kingdom” which Harley helps destroy.  He doesn’t realize what he had until it’s gone, and then spends his life trying to regain it.  His purchase of New Bethany land, his building of a model of the village, and his narration of what happened are clearly symbols of that desire.  One obsession is replaced by another?  On the other hand, Disney’s Magic Kingdom is described as “a state-sized sinkhole to the American dream.” 

I did wish there were less repetition in the novel.  The narrator is an elderly man who, because of his lifelong regret, is motivated to tell his truth.  The “author of this book” describes Harley as a “garrulous old man fond of digressions and personal asides who . . . could be repetitive” so a publisher asked the author to “edit, cut, and when necessary overwrite, annotate, and summarize the content.”  There is little evidence of this author’s input, except for some footnotes, certainly not in terms of cutting Harley’s repetitions. 

Despite some needless repetition, I enjoyed this historical novel.  Anyone interested in the Shakers will learn a great deal.  I loved Margaret Atwood’s comment about the book:  “The Magic Kingdom confronts our longings for Paradise; also the inner serpents that are to be found in all such enchanted gardens.” The book also examines how our pasts explicate our presents.  This is both an entertaining and enlightening read. 

Note:  I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.