The Amalgamation Polka
The Amalgamation Polka (2006) is the fourth novel by the writer Stephen Wright. It is set during the time of the American Civil War. The plot concerns the story of Liberty Fish and his travels after joining the Union army.
 First edition | |
| Author | Stephen Wright |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | War |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
Publication date | 2006 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 323 |
| ISBN | 9780679451174 |
The New York Times compared the story to the obvious Heart of Darkness, but also said, "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."
Liberty Fish is the son of two passionate abolitionists but whose grandparents were cruel slave-owners. The plot follows him from his birth to young adulthood, his enlistment in the Union army, and his quest to find his grandparents who he blames for the despair his mother feels. The tone has hints of dark humor and at times can be heavily surreal.
Further reading
- Iaciofano, Carol (February 22, 2006). "A grand journey into the heart of Civil War-era America". Boston Globe. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- Miller, Laura (February 19, 2006). "The Union Unhinged". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- O'Hehir, Andrew (March 22, 2006). "The Amalgamation Polka". Salon. Retrieved December 28, 2011.