BOOK REVIEW: Enduring A Myopic Gauntlet

(Originally published 1980, Paperback Edition 498 pages)

Mr. Conroy, a graduate and basketball player of the Citadel, wrote a disclaimer at the beginning of "The Lords of Discipline" stating it does not represent "one school or set of individuals in particular." The book was published in 1980. However, "My Losing Season", his excellent memoir published in 2002, has quite a few examples which match "The Lords of Discipline." I'm hardpressed to believe his fictional book does not primarily depict the brutal culture of the 1960s Citadel. Having been born, raised and lived my entire life in northern New England, Southern culture's mindset is difficult for me to understand. Despite spending decades studying the region's overly romantic views of war, the importance of class and heritage as well as their attitudes about race and gender, the regional beliefs still seem odd; even silly to me. There is no way in God's creation I would have been cut out for such an environment.

The author's protagonist, Will McLean, is a sarcastic, funny, risk-averse liaison to the "Institute's" (read Citadel's) first black cadet. Set in the 1966-67 academic year and despite it being an insular environment, the Vietnam War is raging and racial tensions hang over the young students. Mr. Conroy takes pains to describe what students have to endure in pursuit of a degree and the hallowed graduation ring. The book is written in the first-person narrative and the author does an excellent job of conveying McLean's hopes, fears and mixed emotions of being a boy struggling into manhood under such a barbaric system. The only part of Mr. Conroy's book that felt forced was the romance between Annie Kate and Will McLean. Most of the dialogue between them had me rolling my eyes at its melodramatic nature.

Many English instructors have urged budding authors to write about what they know. Mr. Conroy did just that. He is a wonderful writer and has a knack for describing the feel of a military academy and Southern culture. The book is interesting and entertaining. It forces the reader to question the use or abuse of power, individuality vs the needs of the collective as well as what it means to be a patriot? "The Lords of Discipline" is great fiction and well worth your time.

(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #300)