RAINBOW'S END
by Rex Beach
(Harper & Brothers, 1916)
Once in awhile a story comes along that holds you in its grip. Of course, it takes a writer of talent to effect this. Then, not everyone will succumb to the spell of a good narrative story. Some folks are naturally apathetic. It takes nothing less than a shot of adrenaline or a good snort of kitchen-ammonia to bring them back into the realms of sensibility. But whatever your case, if you're not jolted wide awake by Rex Beach's Rainbow's End, you'd better get your pulse checked. Rainbow's End is a fast-paced adventure, and yet also a deeply interesting drama that will hold you spellbound. My only complaint with Rex Beach is that once I pick up one of his books I can't put it down. This one is no exception. In fact, it's one of the better novels I've read in several months. Yet it defies anything like mathematical analysis. One doesn't know exactly what makes Rainbow's End a "great" work of fiction. But one feels, intuitively, that it's a novel of vital significance. At any rate, it shows Beach at his best.
The main plot-thread deals with Cuban conditions prior to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. Although no dates are given, the tale takes place around 1897, during Valeriano Weyler's disastrous term as governor of Cuba. His brutal "concentration" policy is gone into with elaborate detail. The conditions of the peasantry, as compared with the wealthier residents of that country, are vividly outlined. No writer but Richard Harding Davis has furnished such an accurate account of the Spanish atrocities committed in Cuba during that time. Genuine human interest is poured into the depictions of daily life and existence, and great attention is paid to the respective military strategies of either party. Thus, the novel has vast importance as a work of 20th century realism.
But the grimmer elements are counterbalanced by the spice of romance and adventure. Behind it all, there is a hidden treasure of incalculable wealth, the whereabouts of which causes the protagonists, John O'Reilly and his sweetheart, Rosa Varona, no small discomfiture. Spanish gold and jewels in abundance, and "pearls as large as plums" give us some indication of how important this treasure is to the outcome of the tale. After the two lovers become separated, the evil General Cobo lifts his arm of destruction against them. The plot then channels into O'Reilly's adventures with the insurrectionists. As an extra touch, there are ample amounts of Rex Beach's trademark humor. The boastful "Jacket," the journalist Leslie, and the inscrutable nurse Norine, comprise a dynamic cast and crew that is eminently likable.
As usual, Beach's prose is reined in with a sure hand. He never says too much or too little, and clarity of thought is exemplified in every paragraph. The extraordinary detail given to local scenery reminds us that Beach was no mere theorist. He personally visited the locations he writes about, and, to all appearance, his information is perfectly reliable. At least it has not been disputed. Unfortunately, the work suffers from a bit too much diversional material. Such is the curse of many a good novel. Here, the resultant product could have been clipped by fifty or sixty pages to great advantage. Nevertheless, it is written with such a dexterity that the fault is scarcely noticeable. On the whole, it is a work which will stand well-nigh every test of literary merit one can call to mind.
If you're in the U.S., Rainbow's End should be easy to obtain. Used copies typically run anywhere from $2 to $10. Most of the Harper editions contain a frontispiece by Stockton Mulford. It's too bad there weren't more illustrations, but the tale doesn't really need any showcasing. Given its vast potential, it surprised me to learn that it was never filmed. During the time of its initial publication, however, Beach was very active making films such as "On the Spanish Main" and "Pirate Haunts." His excursions to the West Indies, both fruitful and well-publicized, probably contributed to the sales of the novel. I am currently doing some research on the contemporary criticism regarding this book, & hopefully more info will be forthcoming. But until then, don't just take my word for it. If you have red blood in your veins, and a heart that beats, there's something waiting for you at the Rainbow's End.
--B.A.S.
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