THE NET
by Rex Beach
(Harper & Brothers, 1912)
Norvin Blake, an American citizen, is over in Palermo, Sicily, visiting his friend, the Count Martel Savigno. The Count is on the eve of his marriage with the fabulous Margherita, and it seems that both are destined to lead a life of matrimonial bliss. A shadow, however, falls across their impending happiness. Savigno has been getting death-threats from the local mafia. These threats are mysteriously signed "Belisario Cardi." But who is Belisario Cardi? Nobody seems to know. In fact, many think he's merely a local legend. While accompanying the Count by night to a neighboring village, Blake and he fall into an ambush. It is the mafia banditti. After a brief but ineffectual resistance, Blake witnesses the brutal murder of his friend. He discovers at this time that he is a craven. And he vows to spend the remainder of his days overcoming his fears and exacting revenge on the criminal elements of society. Four years go by. The scene is now New Orleans. Blake has become a police investigator of no mean reputation. While laboring to bust up the incipient mafia operations in that community, word comes to him one day that Margherita, Savigno's widow, is in the city, hiding under an assumed name. And then there is mention of Belisario Cardi. What could it mean? As Blake plunges into the shadowy world of criminal intrigue, assisted by his friend Bernie Dreux-- a wannabe detective-- the net begins to slowly close down. But who is holding the strings?
The Net is one of Beach's more refined novels. It makes a wide departure from his previous Yukon-based fiction, and shows a diversity of talent and expansion of interest in human character. While I intended to get a good story concerning the New Orleans mafia of 1912, I found that the book actually takes place in the early 1880's. In reality, then, it is a historical novel. The tale is polished, and shows a certain attention to matter of style and plot construction. And yet , in my view it falls behind Beach's earlier fiction. Why is this? The main drawback: too many comic interludes between Bernie Dreux and his sister, Felicite. In fact, these latter two romp about so much, that the effect of the main story is weakened. If Beach had concentrated solely on Norvin Blake's crisis, he would have done well enough, and the book might have been among the better examples of its kind. However, he brings in too many diversions. And we can't help feeling that the novel would have been improved with some pruning.
But as a work of historical significance, The Net is a diamond in the rough. The author's research on local history and events is admirably brought forth. As well, the novel contains some interesting social commentary. During the last quarter of the tale, the comic relief drops quickly aside, and themes of vigilante justice come into play. The last fifty pages, in fact, contain some brutal depictions of mob violence. And then, of course, there are those redeeming romantic elements which bind everything together, making for a well-balanced and commercially-feasible story. Indeed, it shouldn't surprise us to learn that The Net was one of the top-sellers of 1912.
This book is easy to locate, and used copies can usually be had for $5 or $6. It was reprinted several times throughout Beach's career. In my view, it forms part of the middle-period of his early output, which started in 1911 with The Ne'er-Do-Well, and attained fruition with works such as The Auction Block (1914) and Rainbow's End (1916). It was the period of Beach's career when he established himself as a writer of social significance-- and one to be reckoned with. About this time, Beach started to become very active in the motion picture industry, and most of his later writings were geared toward potential filming possibilities. In an article soon to be published, "Edwardian Movie Fiction," I discuss Beach as one of the prime figures of the pioneer motion picture industry. And yet for all that, The Net has never been filmed-- perhaps on account of its precarious Italian-American relations. But don't let that stop you from picking up a copy of this book. If nothing else, it'll provide with several hours of interesting subject matter. And maybe even Mario Puzo's readers will learn something from it. Badabing.
--B.A.S.
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