Setting
In A Day No Pigs Would Die, Peck shares the vivid tapestry of his boyhood adventures, weaving his own name into the fabric of the narrative as the protagonist. Set against the backdrop of rural Vermont in the late 1920s, the tale unfolds on a farm nestled just outside the quaint village of Learning. The bustling town of Rutland, being the county seat, appears to Rob Peck—who alone among his family has set foot there—as the grandest metropolis imaginable.
The Pecks belong to the Shaker community, identifying themselves as the Plain People, who eschew any form of extravagance. Though not affluent in terms of wealth, they find their fortune in the abundant love and fertile land they cherish. While they lack horses to pull their wagon to Rutland, they rely on a sturdy ox for demanding chores, taking immense pride in their laborious journey towards fully owning their beloved farm within five years.
Style and Technique
In the rich tapestry of storytelling, Rob takes center stage, narrating his escapades and emotions with a first-person perspective that draws readers into his world. This narrative style, vibrant and compelling, is heightened by the author's use of vivid dialect that captures Rob's rural Vermont roots. Phrases like "true as taproot," "falling fast as a stone," "soldier still," and "wrong as sin on Sunday" pepper his speech, adding authenticity and color. Rob's recounting, as if speaking directly to an audience, is punctuated by fragmentary thoughts, lending the narrative a smooth, lifelike quality.
While the author chooses not to delve deeply into the physical appearances of his characters, he compensates with a rich depiction of their quirks and dispositions. The characters' thoughts are laid bare through the author's keen insights, employing strong, evocative language without resorting to embellishment. This precision in language evokes a spectrum of emotions in the reader, a testament to the author's remarkable literary prowess.
Rob's Journey of Growth
With each of Rob's trials and triumphs, his growth is palpable. The mating encounter between Pinky and the boar Samson is portrayed with a frankness that is honest yet tasteful. The heart-wrenching scene of Pinky's butchering unfolds through the eyes of a devastated youth, reluctantly aiding in the demise of his beloved pet. As he arranges his father's funeral, Rob emerges as a young man, staggered by grief but resolute in duty. Each of these milestones reveals new facets of Rob's character, masterfully woven by the author to paint a vivid portrait of the protagonist.
Historical Context
The Stark Reality of Farm Life
Peck, with unflinching candor, paints a vivid tableau of life on the farm. Some critics argue that Peck's narrative veers into the realm of excessive violence and bleakness, as he underscores the ever-present shadow of mortality. Yet, there are those who applaud this stark realism, appreciating his unvarnished acceptance of nature in its rawest form.
Scenes of Life and Death
The encounter between Pinky and the boar is portrayed with honesty, lacking any intention to offend. The harrowing details surrounding Pinky's demise are far from unnecessary; they serve to illuminate Rob's emotional response to his father's actions. Peck touches upon matters of sex subtly, weaving them into the story without dwelling extensively. Rob's four sisters have "wedded and bedded," a folksy expression for "married." Meanwhile, a wedded neighbor's infidelity spirals into tragedy, culminating in his lover drowning their child and ending her own life. In the shadows, a widow woman shares laughter with her hired man.
Rob observes these complexities of human behavior with a nonjudgmental eye, accepting them as part of life's tapestry without delving into their sexual intricacies further.
Bibliography
Commire, Anne, ed. Something about the Author. Vol. 21. Detroit: Gale Research, 1980. Delve into an insightful interview with Peck.
Kirkpatrick, D. L., ed. Twentieth Century Children's Writers. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1983. This piece offers glowing praise for A Day No Pigs Would Die, yet voices some criticism of Peck's subsequent creations.
Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher. "City Life and Country Life." New York Times (January 4, 1973): 35. The critic describes Peck's work as "a stunning little dramatization of the brutality of life on a Vermont farm," capturing its raw essence.
Locher, Frances Carol, ed. Contemporary Authors. Vol. 81-84. Detroit: Gale Research, 1979. This article offers a concise biography of Peck, alongside a tapestry of critical reviews weaving through his literary journey.
Marsh, Pamela. "What's New and Popular on the Bookshelf: A Day No Pigs Would Die." Christian Science Monitor (January 17, 1973): 11. Marsh's review acknowledges the book as "sometimes sickening, often entrancing," highlighting its emotional spectrum.
Peck, Robert Newton. Fiction Is Folks. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 1983. Here, Peck shares illuminating insights into the creation of A Day No Pigs Would Die.
Todd, Richard. "Psychic Farming: Country Books." Atlantic Monthly (April 1973): 114-120. Todd describes Peck's book as "ruinously sentimental," critiquing its emotional depth.
Yardley, Jonathan. "New Fiction: A Day No Pigs Would Die." New York Times Book Review (May 13, 1973): 37. Yardley appreciates the work for conveying "sentiment without sentimentality," portraying an authentic emotional landscape.
