This short novel was John Steinbeck's contribution to the war effort at the onset of WWII, when he was working with the intelligence services as a propagandist. Many contemperary American critics panned it as a work of propaganda, since he depicted the soldiers of the "Invader" (a thinly-veiled German army) as men, not as monstrous caricatures. While his book was poorly reviewed in America, in Occupied Europe, it became a sensation, mostly for the reasons it was reviled by American ... (show more)

This short novel was John Steinbeck's contribution to the war effort at the onset of WWII, when he was working with the intelligence services as a propagandist. Many contemperary American critics panned it as a work of propaganda, since he depicted the soldiers of the "Invader" (a thinly-veiled German army) as men, not as monstrous caricatures. While his book was poorly reviewed in America, in Occupied Europe, it became a sensation, mostly for the reasons it was reviled by American literary critics. "The Moon Is Down" celebrates the spirit of a free, democratic people, fighting back against an overwhelming and oppressive invader through guile and cunning and because of their collective freedom of spirit. As a novel, it is a bit thin, and the characters are rather wooden and one-dimensional. As a novel of concepts and ideals, however, it is a supreme example of brilliant and effective propaganda. Thought-provoking and interesting... (show less)