The Republic of Trees is as sensual as it is brilliant. But it’s also succinct, tightly woven, and packs a hell of a punch. Men writing fiction these days rarely dip their toes into this kind of eroticism, and basically write for other men. If women read this book as widely as they do some of the things Ms. Winfrey touts, then Sam Taylor would be household name. In Republic of Trees Taylor introduces us to a group of adolescents that leave society, separate themselves from the rest of the world to form their own community in the woods near their home in remote France. Having lived in the area where this book takes place, I immediately saw this splintered perspective, and could sense the emotionally disconnected feelings that they shared with each other. Michael, Louis, Isobel and the oddly vacant Joy (read my interview with Mr. Taylor, I still don’t know if she exists or not), are all symbolic in their own ways. A strange obsession flows out of Michael, towards his own growth within the intimate structure of this narrative and the cathartic dispelling of his anger and passion through alcohol. To sum this novel up in a word, or phrase, is very difficult to do. Typically coming of age novels turn me off because it’s a one note story, and has been told countless times. Sam Taylor brings the horror of the world to this kids, and the results are magical, sensitive, and vibrantly real. Republic of Trees is a great place for readers to start the Sam Taylor experience, and for us to start talking about his books.
Jason Chambers: I know whether Joy exists or not, JR, but I can’t tell you. I agree with much of what you have written re this Sam Taylor project. He’s a compelling author with an incredible style: deeply insightful, frequently philosophical, and often frightening. I didn’t so much think of Republic of Trees as a coming-of-age story, although of course, in the strictest sense it is one. I was strongly attracted to the dystopian aspect of the tale. A small group departs modern society to develop their own perfect society, a la Rousseau’s Social Contract, by returning to the state of nature. Surprisingly, the freedom of the early days in their republic of trees is short-lived. Imagine that. Fanaticism and law-creation follow and the reader is showered with hints of other great books – Lord of the Flies (not truly dystopian, I know, but it’s a reference you cannot escape), Animal Farm, Brave New World – as the society roils under changes such as infidelity, lawbreaking, and, eventually, the arrival of Joy. The strands of political philosophy reach deep into Republic of Trees and make it as interesting intellectually as it is readable.And it is a hell of a story. Dreamlike at first in their new home, Michael and his friends degenerate morally as they organize politically. The emotions and drama supersede the expectations of the coming of age story. Taylor’s writing is shocking in its intimacy, and in his willingness to really drive over the edge. No punches pulled here.
Dennis Haritou: This survey of the good Sam Taylor is such an extraordinary project for our blog. It’s a comprehensive overview of a writer whose books are as thoughtful as they are emotionally visceral. And Sam Taylor is close to unknown in the U.S. Our American readers may well ask us “Sam who?” I also find it unfortunate that The Amnesiac, Taylor’s second and most ambitious book, was published first over here. Fortunately, we at the Three Guys blog have much more sense. We will review Sam’s work in chronological order…which is how we read him…thanks to JR’s suggestion…and thanks also to Jennifer, JR’s wife…for providing such great literary bread crumbs for us to follow.
I’ve written before about how I like to think of philosophy as a form of fiction and I have wondered what it would be like to turn a philosophy classic, like Spinoza’s Ethics for example, into a novel with characters acting out the sense of the book. Rousseau’s Social Contract and the history of the French Revolution provide the basis for this nightmare of a Utopian community when a bunch of kids escape adult supervision and go to live in the woods. I should have realized how grim the scenario was going to be for these kiddies when they build their own working guillotine. But great writers, like Taylor, are great psychologists. ST puts you within the group so that you empathize with their starry-eyed project. And that guillotine…well it’s just inspirational and decorative, isn’t it? But I don’t want Republic of Trees to sound too abstract. Believe me it isn’t. Sam Taylor is a great novelist not a social theorist. We get down to the gut level of human loves and hates in Republic of Trees. Lovers become monsters when they are crossed and fortunes shift with volcanic force as princes become pariahs. Can you tell that I loved it?
JR: Of his three books I found Republic of Trees the most accessible and haunting. Amnesiac isn’t like this at all, and I thought it was a strange second book in comparison, since Island at the End of the World is his third book. I really think Republic and Island are very close in tone and style. Either way I’m happy to talk about his books, especially since we’ve just gotten started.
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