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Purple Poole by Samuel Richards iUniverse
book review by Marc Greco
"With all the pressure from the media and special interests, I can't see us coming out and condemning the black movement and at the same time maintaining an all-white staff."
What could be more timely than Boston born, Florida resident Samuel Richards' first novel Purple Poole? This political mystery looks at the issues of race and socioeconomic conditions of current America. After extensive research into inner city poverty and welfare problems, the story centers on urban blight, and then renaissance, through an intervention of a charismatic leader. It offers much discussion, and through the author's meticulous conversation, he arrives at possible answers, while urging America to pay more attention to its underclass.
In Purple Poole, during this rebirth of America, a black man rises meteorically through elections to become a national figure and ultimately claim the White House. "The parade down Pennsylvania Avenue would include ten thousand marchers, six hundred horses, sixty floats, seventy marching bands... Dignitaries from around the world would attend. Scholars and authors would speak. No one would be excluded, particularly those who were part of the black unification movement." Since this was published in mid 2008, perhaps Richards was trying to invoke thoughts of Barack Obama, but the irony will strike readers who encounter the book post the inauguration of our 43rd President.
The novel's interesting structure features alternating point of views, such as Wirth Dunhill, an out of touch Republican Massachusetts Senator, who is ill equipt to deal with the demographics of his constituency. Other characters include his physically attractive wife, Glea, and militant brother, with the loaded name Moorehouse (was Richards thinking of the famous college in Atlanta). Because of this shifting narrative voice, dimensions ensues. Most books shy away from frank, prolonged discussions on America's rocky though ever evolving race relations. There aren't many books with the ambitions of Purple Poole, but there should be.