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Noon Wine
This rare and vintage book is a perfect addition to any bibliophile's collection
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1971
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About the author
Katherine Anne Porter
154 books351 followersKatherine Anne Porter was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist. She is known for her penetrating insight; her works deal with dark themes such as betrayal, death and the origin of human evil.
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherin...
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherin...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 19, 2010
God, I read the weirdest shit when I'm sick and can't get to the library. The Brujo's mouldering relics from 23+ years of teaching high school English include, bizarrely, this. It's like watery Harper Lee, with some gapeworthy moments.
March 1, 2015
A haunting story that sticks with you.
November 13, 2025
ওয়েস্টার্ন জনরা বাংলাদেশে ভালই জনপ্রিয়। এই গল্পটা তাই অনুবাদ করে টেক্সটবুকে সংযুক্ত করে দেওয়া যায়। জাস্টিস, জাতীয়তাবাদ, মানসিক স্বাস্থ্য, গিল্ট এবং এইরকম আরও অনেক থিম ক্ষুদ্র পরিসরে এক্সপ্লোর করসেন লেখিকা। আবার কাম্যুর মিথ অফ সিসিফাসেরও একটা ক্রিটিসিজম সাইড প্লট হিসাবে দাঁড়ায় গেছে।
এন্ড, সবচে' বড় উইন হইতেসে এটা সুখপাঠ্য। বাকিসব ওয়েস্টারনের মতই ফাস্ট পেইসড।
এন্ড, সবচে' বড় উইন হইতেসে এটা সুখপাঠ্য। বাকিসব ওয়েস্টারনের মতই ফাস্ট পেইসড।
July 14, 2015
This short novel by Katherine Anne Porter (1937)is included in a collection of her stories (1965.)In the preface she abhors the designations 'novella'and 'novelette," so I'll stick with 'short novel' out of respect.
Her genius in this story is creating characters--from the bizarre villain to the strange hired man who owns a collection of harmonicas but only plays one tune, a song about wine at noon. The story takes place on a Texas dairy farm, 1896-1905, owned by the Thompson family, people trying to succeed under difficult circumstances. The Swedish hired man is their saving grace. What happens to them all in the end is a tragedy, but it could be argued--NOT in the classic sense where a character's tragic flaw causes their downfall, but perhaps in the Buddhist construction where life is woe.
It is an ironic story of guilt, repentance, forgiveness. Whether truly guilty or not, Mr. Thompson reminds me of the character in "Crime and Punishment."
There is much 'telling vs. showing' in this story, typical of writing in the 1930's. But the scenes, dialog, characterizations are vivid. I was directed to this story by a blurb from "The Writer" magazine, describing this short novel as one of the greatest American stories ever written.
Her genius in this story is creating characters--from the bizarre villain to the strange hired man who owns a collection of harmonicas but only plays one tune, a song about wine at noon. The story takes place on a Texas dairy farm, 1896-1905, owned by the Thompson family, people trying to succeed under difficult circumstances. The Swedish hired man is their saving grace. What happens to them all in the end is a tragedy, but it could be argued--NOT in the classic sense where a character's tragic flaw causes their downfall, but perhaps in the Buddhist construction where life is woe.
It is an ironic story of guilt, repentance, forgiveness. Whether truly guilty or not, Mr. Thompson reminds me of the character in "Crime and Punishment."
There is much 'telling vs. showing' in this story, typical of writing in the 1930's. But the scenes, dialog, characterizations are vivid. I was directed to this story by a blurb from "The Writer" magazine, describing this short novel as one of the greatest American stories ever written.
October 2, 2025
Noon Wine by Katherine Anne Porter
Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
I was surprised to find that Noon Wine is described as a short novel.
And it is the author herself that has chosen this category over “novella” that she considered:
- "slack, boneless, affected word that we do not need to describe anything." She also said "Please call my works by their right names. We have four that cover every division: short stories, long stories, short novels, novels."
Whatever the appropriate name, this account is extraordinary, especially coming for this reader after Old Mortality that did not agree with me for some reason.
Mr. Thompson has a farm where he lives with his wife, Ellie and their two small sons, Arthur and Herbert when they have a visitor.
Actually, Olaf Helton is not just passing by and he needs a job that he is willing to accept for a much smaller wage than the one he received in North Dakota.
Mr. Thompson comes across as somewhat stingy, for he expresses shock at the dollar a day mentioned by Mr. Helton.
The farmer is also a racist, for this day and age, even though we must consider the context and the period when he expressed his views.
He used to have two African Americans – that he calls with a name used then- working for him and one is killed and the other in jail.
When offering a job to the stranger, Mr. Helton adds other incentives that reflect the segregation of that age.
Being white, Mr. Helton would be invited to have his meals with the employer’s family and will also have a bed.
Mr. Thompson thinks about his previous employees that the board and roof were too much for them, with pay representing an undeserved bonus.
Perhaps he has much in common with The Miser of Moliere who was an exaggerated version of the farmer, for he was unwilling to give people even food.
The relationship between Olaf Helton and the family that has adopted him to a degree is flourishing over the years.
A couple of aspects diminish the general happiness, but there is no heaven on earth and interactions can’t be perfect.
The first cloud relates to the habits of the working man, who is a Swede and hence not inclined to verbosity.
Talking too much-which I do- is one thing, but Mr. Helton appears unable or unwilling to be civil and polite, not uttering a word even when that is appropriate and expected.
The other aspect that alarms Mrs. Thompson and the reader happens on the farm and it involves the children of the family.
At one point, the Swede shakes them off violently and at this point we would call the law in today’s society.
However, there were different standards back then and Mrs. Thompson is alarmed but after the reasoning, both parents accept that the adult was right and the boys were wrong.
Nine years pass and the help on the farm has produced marvelous results, both financially and in other ways.
Olaf Helton works with extreme efficiency, cleaning the barn and the whole premises in his care, making somehow the hens to lay eggs in the appropriate place, not as they used to- all over the place- and they even have a small profit.
Seeing as Ellie Thompson has been ill and needed interventions and medical support that cost money, the presence of the Swede appears crucial and even lifesaving from some angles, having turned the fate of the farm around.
Alas, all this is about to change.
An obnoxious, loathsome character brings not just bad news, but evil thoughts, malevolent action and like a curse on the Thompson house.
I will not say anything to spoil the surprises offered by the final chapters, except that I wish Homer Hatch never came.
Or that the events, what happens after he arrives at the farm would be different.
Very different indeed.
A mesmerizing narrative.
Or I better stick with short novel.
Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
I was surprised to find that Noon Wine is described as a short novel.
And it is the author herself that has chosen this category over “novella” that she considered:
- "slack, boneless, affected word that we do not need to describe anything." She also said "Please call my works by their right names. We have four that cover every division: short stories, long stories, short novels, novels."
Whatever the appropriate name, this account is extraordinary, especially coming for this reader after Old Mortality that did not agree with me for some reason.
Mr. Thompson has a farm where he lives with his wife, Ellie and their two small sons, Arthur and Herbert when they have a visitor.
Actually, Olaf Helton is not just passing by and he needs a job that he is willing to accept for a much smaller wage than the one he received in North Dakota.
Mr. Thompson comes across as somewhat stingy, for he expresses shock at the dollar a day mentioned by Mr. Helton.
The farmer is also a racist, for this day and age, even though we must consider the context and the period when he expressed his views.
He used to have two African Americans – that he calls with a name used then- working for him and one is killed and the other in jail.
When offering a job to the stranger, Mr. Helton adds other incentives that reflect the segregation of that age.
Being white, Mr. Helton would be invited to have his meals with the employer’s family and will also have a bed.
Mr. Thompson thinks about his previous employees that the board and roof were too much for them, with pay representing an undeserved bonus.
Perhaps he has much in common with The Miser of Moliere who was an exaggerated version of the farmer, for he was unwilling to give people even food.
The relationship between Olaf Helton and the family that has adopted him to a degree is flourishing over the years.
A couple of aspects diminish the general happiness, but there is no heaven on earth and interactions can’t be perfect.
The first cloud relates to the habits of the working man, who is a Swede and hence not inclined to verbosity.
Talking too much-which I do- is one thing, but Mr. Helton appears unable or unwilling to be civil and polite, not uttering a word even when that is appropriate and expected.
The other aspect that alarms Mrs. Thompson and the reader happens on the farm and it involves the children of the family.
At one point, the Swede shakes them off violently and at this point we would call the law in today’s society.
However, there were different standards back then and Mrs. Thompson is alarmed but after the reasoning, both parents accept that the adult was right and the boys were wrong.
Nine years pass and the help on the farm has produced marvelous results, both financially and in other ways.
Olaf Helton works with extreme efficiency, cleaning the barn and the whole premises in his care, making somehow the hens to lay eggs in the appropriate place, not as they used to- all over the place- and they even have a small profit.
Seeing as Ellie Thompson has been ill and needed interventions and medical support that cost money, the presence of the Swede appears crucial and even lifesaving from some angles, having turned the fate of the farm around.
Alas, all this is about to change.
An obnoxious, loathsome character brings not just bad news, but evil thoughts, malevolent action and like a curse on the Thompson house.
I will not say anything to spoil the surprises offered by the final chapters, except that I wish Homer Hatch never came.
Or that the events, what happens after he arrives at the farm would be different.
Very different indeed.
A mesmerizing narrative.
Or I better stick with short novel.
September 18, 2015
Probably of all the books and plays that take me around an hour (give or take), I'd have to say that "Noon Wine" did the best with it. I know I complained in my review of "Trifles" of it's brief storytelling, but that's because it did little with it. It felt like a scene, not like a whole one-act play. I like short stories (The video game "Portal" comes to mind as I mention this) that take their time and still manage to tell an effective story, while also being very brief. Now that I've padded this review enough, "Noon Wine" is very emotional and really challenged my ideas of morality (It wouldn't hurt to recommend it to my new-born Christian friends), where the lines of "good" and "evil" are blended to a delectable grey, and you don't know what to think of it. The characters are very well-done and the plot they follow is excellently paced- that even though it's short, you still feel very satisfied after finishing and not like you think there definitely should be more to the story, and "Noon Wine" does that very well.
July 15, 2017
This short novel to me fell within the same category of books like Of Mice and Men or even O Pioneers―stories of life on farms, full of struggles for owners and hands alike, with tragedy looming in the background waiting to strike. But each is no doubt different, with its own unique tale, its own tragedy. Noon Wine takes us to the farm of the Thompsons where Mr Thompson is quite clear on what the jobs of men and women on the farm should be but his wife isn’t strong enough to cope. Luck comes their way one day when Olaf Helton comes to the farm seeking work. He proves himself more than worthy by not only doing his work well but turning the farm around bringing in some profit for the Thompsons, though he isn’t a particularly communicative man, only interested in (actually rather intensely) his collection of harmonicas. Helton works on the farm for 9 years and life goes on peaceable, fairly happily, but then another man, Mr Hatch visits the farm, turning life completely upside down. Not only does Mr Helton suffer but Mr Thompson finds himself facing a situation he’s never ever imagined―not only his neighbours but his own family begin to look at him differently, and he finds himself unable to understand, unable to cope.
Noon Wine is not only short, it moves rather fast even though the events themselves aren’t fast-paced as such. Like some reviewers I wondered about the point of it all―is it perhaps that it just tells of how life simply brings these moments, these episodes which bring pain, tragedy, and which one can’t really do anything about but try to cope―is it just that it was documenting one such? I couldn’t really make up my mind about that but the few themes that did stand out were one, the issue of trust, when one finds oneself in a difficult situation, something that is difficult to explain even to oneself, perhaps this is what one most needs, and if that is taken away then one is totally lost, with nowhere and no one to turn to. Another was perhaps letting things be which are going on peacefully, happily (at least according to them)―sometimes, interference with whatever intention can bring nothing good for anyone concerned. Perhaps certain people, certain situations don’t conform to the “norm” but so long as they aren’t harming anyone, is there anything wrong with leaving them be?
It is a little hard for me to rate this but perhaps 3 and a half stars?
Noon Wine is not only short, it moves rather fast even though the events themselves aren’t fast-paced as such. Like some reviewers I wondered about the point of it all―is it perhaps that it just tells of how life simply brings these moments, these episodes which bring pain, tragedy, and which one can’t really do anything about but try to cope―is it just that it was documenting one such? I couldn’t really make up my mind about that but the few themes that did stand out were one, the issue of trust, when one finds oneself in a difficult situation, something that is difficult to explain even to oneself, perhaps this is what one most needs, and if that is taken away then one is totally lost, with nowhere and no one to turn to. Another was perhaps letting things be which are going on peacefully, happily (at least according to them)―sometimes, interference with whatever intention can bring nothing good for anyone concerned. Perhaps certain people, certain situations don’t conform to the “norm” but so long as they aren’t harming anyone, is there anything wrong with leaving them be?
It is a little hard for me to rate this but perhaps 3 and a half stars?
October 13, 2011
I really liked Porter's writing style, but I honestly couldn't grasp the point of this short story. A farm family in Texas hires a drifter from North Dakota, Mr. Helton, a silent man, but one who does his work well. He's with them for 9 years and becomes a part, silent part, of the family. Out of nowhere comes another man from North Dakota looking for Mr. Helton claiming that he had killed his brother and been in and out of the "looney bin" after that. The last few pages relate the violence that takes place after that, with two of the three men dying. What's the point? I don't get it.
September 13, 2012
she signed a book of mine and now it is lost. this story haunts me.
January 16, 2019
בחור אלמוני מתקבל לעבוד ולחיות בחווה בדרום טקסס. כעבור שנים מגיע מרחוק גבר אשר הכיר את אותו עובד ויש לו מידע חשוב עבור בעל החווה בקשר אליו. מכאן מתפתח הסיפור באופן בלתי צפוי, ואף גורם לתהיה מה קרה אחר כך.
נובלה קצרה ומוצלחת על הטבע האנושי ההפכפך.
יין צהריים/קת'רין אן פורטר
נובלה קצרה ומוצלחת על הטבע האנושי ההפכפך.
יין צהריים/קת'רין אן פורטר
June 19, 2024
Slow burn - I love reading these classics because you always notice the tropes every chilling Netflix series attempts to draw from...
April 17, 2016
A pleasant surprise. What starts out as a folksy, slice of life story about a scrabbling Texas farm family and the mysterious hired hand who turns their fortunes around, suddenly turns dark and becomes a poignant portrait of a man's guilt. Very well done. I will certainly be seeking out more of Porter's work.
(Incidentally, despite this book appearing in a collection called Six Great Modern Short Novels, it's really not a novel or even a novella. At around 20,000 words, it technically qualifies as novelette. Essentially, it's a really long short story. I read it in just a few hours, and I'm a slow reader.)
(Incidentally, despite this book appearing in a collection called Six Great Modern Short Novels, it's really not a novel or even a novella. At around 20,000 words, it technically qualifies as novelette. Essentially, it's a really long short story. I read it in just a few hours, and I'm a slow reader.)
November 2, 2021
I read this today from a collection of six great modern short novels published in 1954. I had never read anything by Katherine Anne Porter before but I will read her short story collection which I own after reading this powerful thought provoking novel. Some words used in it like “hoosgow” (which is another word for jail) I had not seen for many years.
Want to read
August 3, 2011A 50-page short novel included in Seven Contemporary Short Novels (Charles Clerq and Louis Leiter, eds, 1969) along with an essay on it by Louis Leiter.
September 30, 2011
Beautiful.
June 1, 2017
Sight and gaze play an interesting role in this novella...
June 29, 2023
After several years a Mr. Hatch, from Georgia, with a sister with a Swedish husband, in North Dakota, follows up on one of their Swedish neighbors with a Mr. Thompson.
Mr. Helton is from North Dakota where he lived with his brother and his mother.
Mr. Helton has relocated to a South Texan struggling farm owed by Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and their two young sons, Arthur and Herbert.
Mr. Helton too struggles in life, and he only chooses to play one tune on his numerous harmonicas which is about Swedish men drinking their wine up before noon.
The tune reflects the behavior Swedish men which, in turn, mirrors other men’s actions no matter where they are from or what their nationality is.
Sibling relationships also factor into this story. Although Mr. Helton is a very good worker, Mr. Hatch’s visit, on behalf of his sister, changes the lives of the three men for ever.
Mr. Helton’s behavior raises questions about social justice and family relationships.
Mr. Helton is from North Dakota where he lived with his brother and his mother.
Mr. Helton has relocated to a South Texan struggling farm owed by Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and their two young sons, Arthur and Herbert.
Mr. Helton too struggles in life, and he only chooses to play one tune on his numerous harmonicas which is about Swedish men drinking their wine up before noon.
The tune reflects the behavior Swedish men which, in turn, mirrors other men’s actions no matter where they are from or what their nationality is.
Sibling relationships also factor into this story. Although Mr. Helton is a very good worker, Mr. Hatch’s visit, on behalf of his sister, changes the lives of the three men for ever.
Mr. Helton’s behavior raises questions about social justice and family relationships.
January 8, 2025
Early 20th century has never been my jam and this collection affirmed it. The Dead was not profound. Billy Budd was too boring to finish. Noon Wine was just so sad. The Pilgrim Hawk was weird and unrelatable. I decided not to torture myself with Faulkner ever again. And The Overcoat. It’s supposed to be revolutionary satire. Here’s a plot summary: a poor guy needs a new coat. He saves up and gets one. It’s really nice. It gets stolen. He’s sad and dies in the snow. Maybe the Russians are over my head but I just don’t get it.
December 4, 2018
This is an intriguing short novel with a few surprises to reveal and a nice twist in the middle. I won't spoil anything but it's interesting how the story goes in a drastically different direction after a certain event. It reminded me of Flannery O'Connor's short stories in the way it was set on a remote farm and contained a surprisingly gruesome element. There is plenty to ponder here and it is certainly worth reading.
July 10, 2022
Though predating "The Lottery" by several years, this short novel has the same building uneasy feeling. Two strangers arriving 10 years apart tear a family apart. One helps the family, the other arrives with ominous accusations about the first which quickly reach a crescendo as Mr. Thompson seeks to save his family's hired hand.
October 31, 2024
another story in the Pale Horse, Pale Rider collection. I liked this one better than Old Maturity. This is the story of a southern dairy farm family and a hired hand, a Swede, that works efficiently and doesn't talk much but he plays the same song on his harmonica all the time. It is a dark tragic story.
May 21, 2017
So much going on in this short novel. . . I read this on the recommendation of a writing teacher, and I can see why it's so admired. It sets the bar high for telling a "stranger came to town" type of story.
January 17, 2019
It is this short novel that inspired me to read more of this author's work. In Noon Wine, I was transported to another time and another place. My mouth is still dusty from the aftermath of the read. Too bad I did not appreciate Miss Porter' s work fifty years ago. Fortunately, I see clearly now.
May 26, 2020
The thing Porter does exceptionally well in this book is slowly build dread until you feel like you just can't take it anymore. The release is a little too quick, and the remainder of the book is a little lackluster, but for such a short book, it's certainly worth the time.
February 25, 2022
(RFC). This short novel was amazing, up until the end. I loved the idea, climax, and all of the questioning throughout. Unfortunately, the ending made me quite frustrated. The Mr. Thompson is a wimp and a quitter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2022
Mr. Thompson, the owner of a small, run-down Texas dairy farm, hires a man from North Dakota, a Mr. Helton, to help him with the farm work … thus begins the tale of country life as it was lived over a hundred years ago …
November 29, 2025
Very Gothic. Quite Faulkneresque, Flannery O’Connoresque. The difference is the plain language, the absence of often unnecessary foreshadowing and atmosphere of doom, in a direct narrative style. Really pretty good.
March 9, 2019
Imagery and characters were fabulously done.
September 16, 2019
Surprising all the way through. Good description. Read for my Dartmouth graduate creative writing class - Novella.
June 6, 2020
Try and tell me it’s not a portent for Brexit. You can’t.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews