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The Sacrilege of Alan Kent
As Mary Hood writes in her foreword, "The Sacrilege of Alan Kent is unique. Comparisons are not odious, they are impossible. There is nothing like it in any of Caldwell's published works, nor can we find its example in all of American literature."
Alan Kent is a wanderer, a seeker. Driven by, or fleeing from, unnamed forces, he struggles against the hardening effects of a brutal and indifferent world. In a series of episodes, Erskine Caldwell tells the semiautobiographical story of Kent's childhood, roving early manhood, and transformation into an artist.
The episodes, which range from brief, graphic sketches to one-sentence impressions, are filled with elemental images of light and darkness, blood and water, earth and sky. Although an early work, The Sacrilege of Alan Kent shows readers the poetic economy, stark naturalism, and concern for the South's poorest people that became the hallmarks of Caldwell's later work.
Alan Kent is a wanderer, a seeker. Driven by, or fleeing from, unnamed forces, he struggles against the hardening effects of a brutal and indifferent world. In a series of episodes, Erskine Caldwell tells the semiautobiographical story of Kent's childhood, roving early manhood, and transformation into an artist.
The episodes, which range from brief, graphic sketches to one-sentence impressions, are filled with elemental images of light and darkness, blood and water, earth and sky. Although an early work, The Sacrilege of Alan Kent shows readers the poetic economy, stark naturalism, and concern for the South's poorest people that became the hallmarks of Caldwell's later work.
88 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1936
About the author
Erskine Caldwell
334 books230 followersErskine Preston Caldwell was an American author. His writings about poverty, racism and social problems in his native South won him critical acclaim, but they also made him controversial among fellow Southerners of the time who felt he was holding the region up to ridicule.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erskine_...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erskine_...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 15, 2025
Fue en mitad de la noche, en pleno diciembre. La lluvia había empapado la tierra roja hasta hacer que el mundo se desangrara hasta morir. El agua fía y presurosa chorreaba a través de las podridas tablillas y empapaba el desgastado suelo de pino. Los apolillados listones bajo los muelles oxidados de la cama se rompieron en pedazos y entonces nací yo.
Desde entonces me he sentido cansado. ¡Oh, Dios, lo cansado que estoy! Los días son largos… largos. El sol sale tan rápido como un murciélago del infierno y se queda para siempre en el cielo mordiendo mis globos oculares con sus negras encías, y mi sangre mana sobre el mundo entero.
Una vez el sol quemaba tanto que un pájaro bajó y se puso a caminar por mi sombra junto a mí.
Desde entonces me he sentido cansado. ¡Oh, Dios, lo cansado que estoy! Los días son largos… largos. El sol sale tan rápido como un murciélago del infierno y se queda para siempre en el cielo mordiendo mis globos oculares con sus negras encías, y mi sangre mana sobre el mundo entero.
Una vez el sol quemaba tanto que un pájaro bajó y se puso a caminar por mi sombra junto a mí.
January 21, 2023
Este escritor norteamericano de extraño nombre y escasa fama en mi país es en realidad uno de los baluartes indiscutibles del gótico sureño, posiblemente el más crudo y descarnado. Sus novelas más citadas (por controversiales) son "El camino del tabaco" y "La parcela de Dios", siendo además reconocido por sus relatos cortos. De esta última producción destaca el cuento experimental "El sacrilegio de Alan Kent", una obra difícil de clasificar, pero (para beneplácito de nosotros los lectores) breve y fácil de leer.
Las peculiaridades de esta obra son muchas: por su extensión podríamos decir que se trata de un cuento, pero por la estructura diríase que se trata de una novela corta. El texto se divide en tres partes y cada una de ellas se fragmenta en numerosos y diminutos "capítulos" (por así decirlo). A su vez, cada "capítulo" contiene apenas un microrrelato de unos cuantos renglones de extensión. Tan sólo la primera parte puede abarcar treinta y siete episodios, pero estos abarcan sólo quince páginas. Esta estructura tan curiosa implica un estilo minimalista en extremo, como si al narrador le estuvieran arrancando la información a cuentagotas. No obstante, para alguien acostumbrado a novelas extensas cargadas de información, esta forma escueta de escribir, puede resultar novedosa y refrescante.
Lo deseable sería que estos microrrelatos enlazados fueran capaces de expresar mucho más de lo que las palabras dicen a simple vista. Caldwell logra este objetivo con creces, recurriendo a la metáfora, el símbolo y la poesía. Generalmente leeremos cada episodio dos veces, para poder captar en toda su dimensión lo que el escritor trata de decir y con ello poder saborear la lectura con mayor placer.
De esta manera tan original, Caldwell enumera los sucesos que marcan la vida de un vagabundo. El joven Alan Kent ha perdido su hogar y su sentido de pertenencia, entonces trata de recuperarlos en el rostro de una mujer. Como cabría esperar, la mayoría de sus vivencias son desgracias y frustraciones. Los sentimientos más presentes en la obra son la pérdida y lo inalcanzable; todo esto como alegoría del tiempo de la gran depresión, cuando tanta gente del sureste de los Estados Unidos se vio despojada de su tierra, su nivel de vida y su modo de vivir. Cabe mencionar que la novela no habla en absoluto de economía ni política, sino que se limita a describir el mundo sórdido, seco, caluroso, socialmente descompuesto y violento que surge a consecuencia de esta crisis.
Como único detalle negativo, el autor circunda peligrosamente en el tremendismo. La presencia continua de sucesos violentos no ayuda a Caldwell a sacudirse su reputación de escritor descarnado e iracundo. Sin embargo, su gran capacidad expresiva y su habilidad para condensar palabras sin achicar las ideas, le otorgan notable belleza literaria a la rudeza de sus historias.
Este libro es una pequeña muestra de literatura minimalista de excelente nivel. Aunque al final, después de tanto incidente, no nos queda claro ¿Cuál es exactamente el sacrilegio que cometió Alan Kent?
Las peculiaridades de esta obra son muchas: por su extensión podríamos decir que se trata de un cuento, pero por la estructura diríase que se trata de una novela corta. El texto se divide en tres partes y cada una de ellas se fragmenta en numerosos y diminutos "capítulos" (por así decirlo). A su vez, cada "capítulo" contiene apenas un microrrelato de unos cuantos renglones de extensión. Tan sólo la primera parte puede abarcar treinta y siete episodios, pero estos abarcan sólo quince páginas. Esta estructura tan curiosa implica un estilo minimalista en extremo, como si al narrador le estuvieran arrancando la información a cuentagotas. No obstante, para alguien acostumbrado a novelas extensas cargadas de información, esta forma escueta de escribir, puede resultar novedosa y refrescante.
Lo deseable sería que estos microrrelatos enlazados fueran capaces de expresar mucho más de lo que las palabras dicen a simple vista. Caldwell logra este objetivo con creces, recurriendo a la metáfora, el símbolo y la poesía. Generalmente leeremos cada episodio dos veces, para poder captar en toda su dimensión lo que el escritor trata de decir y con ello poder saborear la lectura con mayor placer.
De esta manera tan original, Caldwell enumera los sucesos que marcan la vida de un vagabundo. El joven Alan Kent ha perdido su hogar y su sentido de pertenencia, entonces trata de recuperarlos en el rostro de una mujer. Como cabría esperar, la mayoría de sus vivencias son desgracias y frustraciones. Los sentimientos más presentes en la obra son la pérdida y lo inalcanzable; todo esto como alegoría del tiempo de la gran depresión, cuando tanta gente del sureste de los Estados Unidos se vio despojada de su tierra, su nivel de vida y su modo de vivir. Cabe mencionar que la novela no habla en absoluto de economía ni política, sino que se limita a describir el mundo sórdido, seco, caluroso, socialmente descompuesto y violento que surge a consecuencia de esta crisis.
Como único detalle negativo, el autor circunda peligrosamente en el tremendismo. La presencia continua de sucesos violentos no ayuda a Caldwell a sacudirse su reputación de escritor descarnado e iracundo. Sin embargo, su gran capacidad expresiva y su habilidad para condensar palabras sin achicar las ideas, le otorgan notable belleza literaria a la rudeza de sus historias.
Este libro es una pequeña muestra de literatura minimalista de excelente nivel. Aunque al final, después de tanto incidente, no nos queda claro ¿Cuál es exactamente el sacrilegio que cometió Alan Kent?
December 10, 2017
55
(in the sub-section titled “Inspiration for Greatness”)
“I opened my eyes in the morning where everything was strange to me and I saw a naked girl running through the country and she tried to hide from me. Once when she stopped and looked at me I could see that her breast was bursting like a blossom in the warm sunshine and I ran all through the South trying to catch her, so I could bury my face in the unfolding bloom and know the fragrance of it. Then when I reached her, all the petals fell from her breast and they were blown away in the wind and I could not see her any more and I never knew where she went, but the seeds that were scattered that day are the flowers that are blooming there now” (pp. 24 – 25).
This “novella” is curious in construction. It reads more like a personal diary with multiple entries. That said, almost every one of these entries is more lyrical than most of the “poetry” that’s being published today.
Erskine Caldwell, I’m convinced, is ne plus ultra. This is not his finest work—not by a long shot. But written as it was by a young man, it’s simply magnificent—the harvesting of thoughts and impressions to feed the hungry maw of one of America’s greatest, if not the greatest.
RRB
Brooklyn, NY
10 December 2017
(in the sub-section titled “Inspiration for Greatness”)
“I opened my eyes in the morning where everything was strange to me and I saw a naked girl running through the country and she tried to hide from me. Once when she stopped and looked at me I could see that her breast was bursting like a blossom in the warm sunshine and I ran all through the South trying to catch her, so I could bury my face in the unfolding bloom and know the fragrance of it. Then when I reached her, all the petals fell from her breast and they were blown away in the wind and I could not see her any more and I never knew where she went, but the seeds that were scattered that day are the flowers that are blooming there now” (pp. 24 – 25).
This “novella” is curious in construction. It reads more like a personal diary with multiple entries. That said, almost every one of these entries is more lyrical than most of the “poetry” that’s being published today.
Erskine Caldwell, I’m convinced, is ne plus ultra. This is not his finest work—not by a long shot. But written as it was by a young man, it’s simply magnificent—the harvesting of thoughts and impressions to feed the hungry maw of one of America’s greatest, if not the greatest.
RRB
Brooklyn, NY
10 December 2017
January 17, 2015
This edition included The Bastard and Poor Fool. The style used was a strange combination of Hemingway's and modern Gothic. This time I won't discuss the book in question but rather state Caldwell's ideas on writing as taken from the UCLA Communications Studies:
3/1/1967
Have the purpose to tell a story.
Use of experience plus imagination in creating fiction.
Have the Compulsion to tell a story.
Experience used can be Pleasant or Unpleasant.
LUCK to meet the right people when one starts as a writer.
FATE- typewriter addiction.
Rely on one's judgement to distinguish between good or bad literature. It's a Personal matter.
ALL characters are-must be FICTITIOUS.
Early twenties best years in a person to start writing (18-25). Later one develops fixed ideas.
Influences: Twain, Sherwood Anderson, Hemingway.
Non-fiction writing is just REPORTING.
Be honest, without intending just to shock. Good taste level.
3/5/1965
Lifelong mystery of writing.
Urge, dictate of FATE.
Recommends to take a Creative Writing course.
Trial and error.
*Not style and form- Implications are what's important. Interesting story-exciting. Content is most important. Content vs. Style.
Individuality is important in a writer.
*Georgia Boy was his favorite book.
Mirror - you see yourself in a story. One infers what's the message.
30/10/1970
Had interest in life around small towns, mores of South-these not necessarily right.
Lets the reader interpret the story, he doesn't give an opinion. *Reader makes mental image of characters, this differs from one to another.
Sympathetic towards his characters.
The writer may fantasize about Grotesque characters while being by himself.*He represents that Age through fiction.
3/1/1967
Have the purpose to tell a story.
Use of experience plus imagination in creating fiction.
Have the Compulsion to tell a story.
Experience used can be Pleasant or Unpleasant.
LUCK to meet the right people when one starts as a writer.
FATE- typewriter addiction.
Rely on one's judgement to distinguish between good or bad literature. It's a Personal matter.
ALL characters are-must be FICTITIOUS.
Early twenties best years in a person to start writing (18-25). Later one develops fixed ideas.
Influences: Twain, Sherwood Anderson, Hemingway.
Non-fiction writing is just REPORTING.
Be honest, without intending just to shock. Good taste level.
3/5/1965
Lifelong mystery of writing.
Urge, dictate of FATE.
Recommends to take a Creative Writing course.
Trial and error.
*Not style and form- Implications are what's important. Interesting story-exciting. Content is most important. Content vs. Style.
Individuality is important in a writer.
*Georgia Boy was his favorite book.
Mirror - you see yourself in a story. One infers what's the message.
30/10/1970
Had interest in life around small towns, mores of South-these not necessarily right.
Lets the reader interpret the story, he doesn't give an opinion. *Reader makes mental image of characters, this differs from one to another.
Sympathetic towards his characters.
The writer may fantasize about Grotesque characters while being by himself.*He represents that Age through fiction.
July 4, 2013
This is Literature as Fine Art.
Erskine Caldwell, best known for his white trash novels, Tobacco Road, and others, delivers a beautifully rendered, economic, at times, surreal beautiful little gem of a novella. The images in this book, beautiful and sad, will stay with you for years. I've read and reread this book and have owned more than one copy. Lines from this book will come up as you live your life. Example, "At night I saw how beautiful the day could never be." or "I wanted to be a giant but thoughts made me weak." An amazing novella and this copy includes art-work, intricate wood-cuts that are lovely to look at and also capture a beautiful loneliness like an Edward Hopper painting
Erskine Caldwell, best known for his white trash novels, Tobacco Road, and others, delivers a beautifully rendered, economic, at times, surreal beautiful little gem of a novella. The images in this book, beautiful and sad, will stay with you for years. I've read and reread this book and have owned more than one copy. Lines from this book will come up as you live your life. Example, "At night I saw how beautiful the day could never be." or "I wanted to be a giant but thoughts made me weak." An amazing novella and this copy includes art-work, intricate wood-cuts that are lovely to look at and also capture a beautiful loneliness like an Edward Hopper painting
September 20, 2019
A very moving story by Caldwell. Just when I thought I got to know him and his style, he produces a book like this.
The story follows the narrator through his life. Each paragraph reflects a different period of his life, his walking around the South, his hardship, the depravity around him, looking for work, his family and love.
Yes, there are snippets of race, the shocking brutality of the period. There is the skepticism of people looking at a stranger walking through a town, the sad loss of life, the unwillingness of those refusing to help those in need, because they don’t have enough for themselves.
His pursuit of love, with such sad endings.
The story follows the narrator through his life. Each paragraph reflects a different period of his life, his walking around the South, his hardship, the depravity around him, looking for work, his family and love.
Yes, there are snippets of race, the shocking brutality of the period. There is the skepticism of people looking at a stranger walking through a town, the sad loss of life, the unwillingness of those refusing to help those in need, because they don’t have enough for themselves.
His pursuit of love, with such sad endings.
February 13, 2014
El sol sale tan rápido como un murciélago del infierno y se queda para siempre en el cielo mordiendo mis globos oculares con sus negras encías, y mi sangre mana sobre el mundo entero.
December 4, 2023
Este es un librito en apariencia corto y sencillo, pero guarda mucha profundidad y poesía. Alan Kent es un hombre sureño que cuenta a modo de fragmentos todo aquello que ve y escucha, desde que era niño hasta cuando es grande y se va de casa de sus padres.
Es una épica contenida en apenas 77 páginas. Sus observaciones podrían parecer anodinas, demasiado simplonas a veces, pero es como si alguien nos descubriera el mundo por primera vez. Algunas son más luminosas, otras visualmente atroces y tampoco oculta el racismo que impera en esas tierras.
Erskine Caldwell nos entrega el misterio de la sencillez, de la inocencia, con una prosa que no se complica en metáforas rimbombantes ni nada de eso. Consigue sorprender con la descripción honesta y única de un hombre que nunca sabemos cuál es su sacrilegio. Esta es una obra poderosa aún siendo una miniatura.
Algunos fragmentos que me gustaron:
"Una vez el sol quemaba tanto que un pájaro bajó y se puso a caminar por mi sombra junto a mí".
"Yo amaba a mi madre y a mi padre y quería estar con ellos, pero no podía dejar de vivir conmigo mismo".
"Podría haber sido un gigante, pero los pensamientos me hacían débil".
Es una épica contenida en apenas 77 páginas. Sus observaciones podrían parecer anodinas, demasiado simplonas a veces, pero es como si alguien nos descubriera el mundo por primera vez. Algunas son más luminosas, otras visualmente atroces y tampoco oculta el racismo que impera en esas tierras.
Erskine Caldwell nos entrega el misterio de la sencillez, de la inocencia, con una prosa que no se complica en metáforas rimbombantes ni nada de eso. Consigue sorprender con la descripción honesta y única de un hombre que nunca sabemos cuál es su sacrilegio. Esta es una obra poderosa aún siendo una miniatura.
Algunos fragmentos que me gustaron:
"Una vez el sol quemaba tanto que un pájaro bajó y se puso a caminar por mi sombra junto a mí".
"Yo amaba a mi madre y a mi padre y quería estar con ellos, pero no podía dejar de vivir conmigo mismo".
"Podría haber sido un gigante, pero los pensamientos me hacían débil".
February 2, 2026
The Sacrilege of Alan Kent. A series of diary type entries / paragraphs about observations and thoughts. Not linked or forming a bigger picture. Interesting and easy enough to get through if a little bewildering. This is followed by his first two books – The Bastard and Poor Fool. These are now very expensive to buy on Amazon or E Bay so this book was an absolute bargain.
Tobacco Road and God’s Little Acre followed and made his name. They were comedic & tame books compared to what was written before and after. Most of his other books after TR & GLA were much more hard-hitting, sexual and violent. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading them all. Caldwell was a very talented / gripping story writer and holds nothing back- which certainly may offend some but I love his style of writing and the excitement of ride.
Journeyman is a great read but the Bastard is right up there too. Poor Fool is his most extreme and dark story line – quite unpleasant to be frank. All of his books are worth a read and each is different.
Tobacco Road and God’s Little Acre followed and made his name. They were comedic & tame books compared to what was written before and after. Most of his other books after TR & GLA were much more hard-hitting, sexual and violent. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading them all. Caldwell was a very talented / gripping story writer and holds nothing back- which certainly may offend some but I love his style of writing and the excitement of ride.
Journeyman is a great read but the Bastard is right up there too. Poor Fool is his most extreme and dark story line – quite unpleasant to be frank. All of his books are worth a read and each is different.
March 5, 2017
It is hard to put words to this novella. The one word that jumps out: Depressing! Not much good takes place. It is in fact a very disturbing work filled with violence, pain, longing and honestly not much good. The style is simple and almost poetic and that makes it even more forceful in the descriptions and the events related. But...I do have to say that the story is a powerful one and fans of Erskine Caldwell will not be disappointed.
July 10, 2012
This is a beautiful and tragic story of one man's journey through a tumultuous life. The last line hit me so hard, I felt numb for hours. It's a book which changed me and how I look at writing. The exquisite wood engravings by Ralph Frizzell complement the mood perfectly.
June 8, 2008
Very poetic, made me want to write down short snippets from my childhood onward- anything I can remember- which isn't much anymore
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews