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The Damned Don't Cry
Book is as new. No signs of previous use or wear.
- GenresFiction
436 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews
November 6, 2018
Another in my very-slowly-growing library of books set where something significant happened to me. This time Savannah, Georgia.
As the book-jacket and every review here will tell you, this book caused a sensation back in 1939 when it was first published. The outrage had to do with people having sex (worded so vaguely I didn't even realise it had happened), bastards, prostitution, and a pretty accurate depiction of low-living.
It's a really good book, but I've got to talk about the racism. If you've been wondering how racist a book written in the American south in 1939 could be, the answer is fucking very. Black people are only caricatures, playing servants, or undesirables. They're referred to both diegetically and extra-diegetically with such a litany of offensive terminology that it was genuinely shocking to read. Do not even get me started on how African-American Vernacular English is represented here.
What makes this representation so shocking, isn't that it's there -- it's a book written buy a white man in 1939's American south -- it's how incompatible it is with the underlying philosophy of the novel itself.
The Damned Don't Cry comes back again and again to the idea that people should only do what they really want, deep down, convention be damned. Only then can a person live with the terrible consequences which seemingly flow from every decision. The narrative quietly flies the flag of radical freedom from convention and societal expectations, especially for women, and the only people who seem able to reconcile the lives they've led by the end of this thing, are the people that follow the philosophy laid out by Hervey within. The rest flee, kill themselves, and turn into tortured drunks.
To go back again to black representation here, the crime spree that spawns a white vigilante group to round up the 'obviously' black culprit, who of course turns out to be white, comes very close to reconciling the gap between the black characters hackneyed depiction, and the radical philosophy of self-determination and freedom that the novel preaches. But it just can't quite marry the two together. Maybe for the time and place this would have been a step too far, but Hervey nods at it at least.
The takeaway from this whole thing, is that life's hard, and unpleasant. It's probably going to always be that way, and end up that way. The only way you can live with yourself in the midst of the endless saga of misery and tragedy is to be out-front, and comport yourself in a way that conforms to you and your particular understanding of how life should be.
This book's beautifully written, in this weird transitional style of prose, somewhere between the 19th and 20th century form. It takes a couple of chapters to overcome the sense that it's over-written, and really aids in the vivid descriptions of the terrible things within.
As the book-jacket and every review here will tell you, this book caused a sensation back in 1939 when it was first published. The outrage had to do with people having sex (worded so vaguely I didn't even realise it had happened), bastards, prostitution, and a pretty accurate depiction of low-living.
It's a really good book, but I've got to talk about the racism. If you've been wondering how racist a book written in the American south in 1939 could be, the answer is fucking very. Black people are only caricatures, playing servants, or undesirables. They're referred to both diegetically and extra-diegetically with such a litany of offensive terminology that it was genuinely shocking to read. Do not even get me started on how African-American Vernacular English is represented here.
What makes this representation so shocking, isn't that it's there -- it's a book written buy a white man in 1939's American south -- it's how incompatible it is with the underlying philosophy of the novel itself.
The Damned Don't Cry comes back again and again to the idea that people should only do what they really want, deep down, convention be damned. Only then can a person live with the terrible consequences which seemingly flow from every decision. The narrative quietly flies the flag of radical freedom from convention and societal expectations, especially for women, and the only people who seem able to reconcile the lives they've led by the end of this thing, are the people that follow the philosophy laid out by Hervey within. The rest flee, kill themselves, and turn into tortured drunks.
To go back again to black representation here, the crime spree that spawns a white vigilante group to round up the 'obviously' black culprit, who of course turns out to be white, comes very close to reconciling the gap between the black characters hackneyed depiction, and the radical philosophy of self-determination and freedom that the novel preaches. But it just can't quite marry the two together. Maybe for the time and place this would have been a step too far, but Hervey nods at it at least.
The takeaway from this whole thing, is that life's hard, and unpleasant. It's probably going to always be that way, and end up that way. The only way you can live with yourself in the midst of the endless saga of misery and tragedy is to be out-front, and comport yourself in a way that conforms to you and your particular understanding of how life should be.
This book's beautifully written, in this weird transitional style of prose, somewhere between the 19th and 20th century form. It takes a couple of chapters to overcome the sense that it's over-written, and really aids in the vivid descriptions of the terrible things within.
February 7, 2017
The Damned Don't Cry was released as a novel in 1939, went through two printings and then became all but unfindable for the following 40 years. Long before Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, there was The Damned Don't Cry. I have to wonder if this had come out in 1979 rather than '39, would there be tours dedicated to “The Book” as there are for Midnight? As it happens, The Damned Don't Cry was considered Savannah's first “scandalous” novel, though those reading it today will find some of the subject matter fairly tame by today's standards. Some of it.
To be fair, Midnight is based on a true story with sites that are still recognizable today. The Savannah of The Damned Don't Cry is rather a different city. We were still a good fifteen years away from the beginning of the significant efforts to restore the "beautiful woman with the dirty face," to the mecca it has become for those seeking the Historic District, horse-drawn carriage rides and charm.
Zelda O'Brien is born on the wrong side of the tracks in the shadow of the gas works near The Pirate's House. Where she was born seems as though it will dictate how her life will go, and the signs aren't good. Her brother is a lout-in-training; her mother is an ill-educated, well-on-her-way-to-alcoholism slattern. Zelda tries to rise above her circumstances with education and drive.
There are some scandalous aspects of this novel that should remain scandalous no matter how much time has passed. Some things, however “terrible” they seemed then, just aren't. I leave it to other readers to determine for themselves which are which. This, it would seem, was written to incite a reaction, and it appears to have gotten one in a great big way, based on the pearl-clutching and tsking that went on at the time of its release. Hervey's florid, purple-as-it-gets prose weighs down on the reader like a humid, hot Savannah August. I read this in January and February, and there were times when I felt like I needed a fan and a mint julep. I could almost smell the flowers in the garden of the house Zelda covets. Whatever other faults Hervey might have had in the way of overzealousness in his writing, it's quite a gift to be able to write in such a way that you transport your readers to the city about which you write; so close that they feel the heat and smell the flowers. Not a bad talent to have, I must say.
To be fair, Midnight is based on a true story with sites that are still recognizable today. The Savannah of The Damned Don't Cry is rather a different city. We were still a good fifteen years away from the beginning of the significant efforts to restore the "beautiful woman with the dirty face," to the mecca it has become for those seeking the Historic District, horse-drawn carriage rides and charm.
Zelda O'Brien is born on the wrong side of the tracks in the shadow of the gas works near The Pirate's House. Where she was born seems as though it will dictate how her life will go, and the signs aren't good. Her brother is a lout-in-training; her mother is an ill-educated, well-on-her-way-to-alcoholism slattern. Zelda tries to rise above her circumstances with education and drive.
There are some scandalous aspects of this novel that should remain scandalous no matter how much time has passed. Some things, however “terrible” they seemed then, just aren't. I leave it to other readers to determine for themselves which are which. This, it would seem, was written to incite a reaction, and it appears to have gotten one in a great big way, based on the pearl-clutching and tsking that went on at the time of its release. Hervey's florid, purple-as-it-gets prose weighs down on the reader like a humid, hot Savannah August. I read this in January and February, and there were times when I felt like I needed a fan and a mint julep. I could almost smell the flowers in the garden of the house Zelda covets. Whatever other faults Hervey might have had in the way of overzealousness in his writing, it's quite a gift to be able to write in such a way that you transport your readers to the city about which you write; so close that they feel the heat and smell the flowers. Not a bad talent to have, I must say.
January 19, 2025
I was pulled in from the very first page of this book! Superbly written - I found myself hoping the best for Zelda. The imagery and language was relevant for today and I found myself checking that this was in fact written in the early 20th century. I can see myself revisiting this novel again.
June 17, 2018
I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 as its prose is as sumptuous and sweltering as Savannah in summer. Some call it Savannah's first scandalous novel and I'm sure it was as it was published in 1939 and contains the "N" word frequently, as the author writes using the patois of the people of the region at that time. It is the story of low born Zelda O'Brien whose life is a compilation of tragedies and yet she somehow is able to maintain her dignity in the face of all adversity and never, ever cries. I don't want to give too much away but this is an epic love story and a heart-wrenching ode to growing up poor and turning oneself into a person of means through whatever means necessary in order to vindicate oneself in the eyes of those who'd looked down on them. No matter what Zelda does to achieve those means, I maintained compassion for her and always wanted her to succeed. Powerful, gorgeous writing! I'd love to read more of Harry Hervey's work.
February 24, 2021
I loved the writing and the imagery that the author produced with his words, but the storyline was painful to read. She fought her way through so much, making good and bad decisions, and then finally when she has triumphed and found her place in society, she uses it for revenge and loses all she ever was fighting for. As I put the finished book down, I realized how much I was hoping for her to make it out in one piece, and just sat in silence for awhile feeling a bit shell shocked.
But the author certainly has a gift of language. I just found a pdf of a long out of print book, "Congai" by the same author, and just 1 page in I see that his use of language is a true gift no matter what location or subject he was writing about.
This is one of those author's, like Pat Conroy, that I find myself highlighting sentences and whole paragraphs that are just so beautiful, poignant or thought provoking. I like books that make me stop and think. This is definitely one.
But the author certainly has a gift of language. I just found a pdf of a long out of print book, "Congai" by the same author, and just 1 page in I see that his use of language is a true gift no matter what location or subject he was writing about.
This is one of those author's, like Pat Conroy, that I find myself highlighting sentences and whole paragraphs that are just so beautiful, poignant or thought provoking. I like books that make me stop and think. This is definitely one.
April 3, 2022
Savannah story that holds up even though it was originally published in1939! Scandalous events make up the plot about the life of Zelda O'Brien. Starting with her wrong side of the tracks upbringing, ending with her running a whore house, this book still captivates. Mr Herveys writing style was classic an modern at the same time (I had to use the dictionary more than once) I read this while on vacation in Savannah which made it even more delightful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2018
I live in Savannah so the location is familiar to me. I also happen to work in the house that inspired the one in the book. The inside is completely different from the author’s description. At any rate I loved it! I don’t know if I will read his other books, but definitely will recommend this one!
January 16, 2009
Excellent story. If you like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, you will love this.
April 12, 2023
It took a while for me to get into this one, and I almost gave up on it, but once I saw the direction the book was going in I enjoyed the story and the writing.
December 21, 2025
I thought the book had more depth until the last section/part. Then it seemed more of a tawdry, pulpy romance novel, or maybe I should say Hervey’s screenwriting experience began to show through. Entertaining and interesting writing all the same, and a nice introduction to an overlooked author.
April 25, 2019
Didn't finish...
July 9, 2019
If you have any familiarity with Savannah you will love this book!
December 23, 2025
I was not very interested for the first half of the story. Then it kicked in and I couldn't put it down.
What a bleak story, 1930's Savannah, not very uplifting. Racism, sexism, classism. Today, we love going to Savannah, the parks, the shops, the restaurants, the B&B's, very charming.
What a bleak story, 1930's Savannah, not very uplifting. Racism, sexism, classism. Today, we love going to Savannah, the parks, the shops, the restaurants, the B&B's, very charming.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews