The Great Fire

The Great Fire

By Shirley Hazzard Picador (2003) ISBN: 0312423586

           

The Great Fire, a National Book Award winner, takes place after World War II. Peace has been reestablished to the world and many struggle with this transition. The main character, Aldred Leith, begins his journey in England, moving to China, and ending up in Hiroshima, Japan after the United States dropped the atomic bomb. While there, he meets a young girl, Helen, and her dying brother, Ben.  Leith becomes extremely close to both of the children, especially Helen, who is half his age.  On the morning of his first day in Hiroshima, Leith awakes to find his fellow colleague dead, a suicide. It is in this horrifying time that he begins to have romantic feelings for Helen. Duty later calls Leith to China, which is in the prelude of Mao’s rise to power. While he’s away, Leith and Helen correspond through letters that only deepens their feelings for one another. However, their love remains in question. Helen’s parents learn of the growing love between soldier and daughter and move Helen to New Zealand in order to escape the potential shame that may come to their daughter. For some, Leith is a predator, but in actuality he represents an ideal veteran—wise, cautious, thoughtful, and honest. Hazzard enhances the main conflict with colorful secondary characters such as Peter Exley and Audrey Fellowes, but they don’t do much to enhance the reader’s understanding of Leith himself.  Hazzard paints complex images with stunning and moving language. Although the plot lags at moments, falling into the rhythmic flow of Hazzard’s sentences almost allows the reader to forgive the sauntering storyline.

Quantitative: Flesch-Kincaid grade level--5.2; Flesch-Kincaid ease level--81.(Quantitative reading level was created by typing a paragraph from the text into Microsoft Word). No Lexile Level or ATOS available.

Qualitative: Despite the Flesche-Kincaid grade level designated as 5.2, The Great Fire would be most appropriate for upper grades, specifically 11th and 12th graders. Since the novel takes place after World War II and prior to the Mao’s ascension, students would benefit greatly from having prior knowledge about the circumstances of both historical events as well as cultural knowledge since Aldred Leith travels all around the eastern hemisphere. In addition, the political commentary and bias can be seen in Hazzard’s representation of her main and secondary characters. Hazzard’s rich language further “complicates” the text for a novice reader due to varying connotations and complex context clues. Furthermore, the shifting narrative and figurative language could lose a less-skilled reader.

Content Area: English; Social Science--U.S. History; Social Science--World History

Curriculum Suggestions: I see this book being on a class’s “Outside Reading List.” Although it could easily be taught in an English class, it would be better suited as a supplemental text.

Common Core Standards: RL.11/12.2-6

*Meets the "Historical Fiction" requirement