Harvest by Jim Crace
In a village somewhere in Medieval
Britain the master’s dovecote is burnt to the ground. The day before a hearth fire was sighted
where one never was before. Strangers
have established a hold in their insulated village. If there is disaster it must be the fault of
the strangers, even though most are quite certain that residents were involved. The strangers are punished, not harshly some
judge, but misfortune seems to spring from the incident. How did life in this perfect village go so
badly so quickly?
A sociological study of the feelings
of us and them as well as the motivations and rationalizations of groups rather
than individuals this is a quick and interesting read.
