THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

By Taylor Caldwell

**

 It’s been said that history repeats itself.

 It’s also been said that Taylor Caldwell had the gift of foresight.

 After reading The Devil’s Advocate, those are statements I truly believe.

 **

 The Devil’s Advocate begins in a prison located in New York City. While the year of the events isn’t important, what happens is.

 Andrew Durant is roughly escorted from his cell – okay, let’s backtrack. “Escorted” is a huge misconception. He was practically dragged from his cell. He eyes blackened and swollen to almost completely shut, his ribs sore, his arm broken, and his face bruised and bloodied from the beatings and tortures he endured at the hands of his “guards”.

 His crime? Speaking out against the current administration. He was considered a traitor to the Republic of America and its Magistrate.

 Yes, you read correctly. It was no longer called the United State of America, for that had ceased to exist. The title “president” was abolished and replaced with the title “Magistrate.”

 While the Magistrate and his friends were enjoying their lives, the citizens of the country were not. Their daily intake of food was rationed by the government – no more, no less. It wasn’t just the quantity of food that was rationed. It was also the type of food. There was no such thing as a steak on the table. They were given the scraps from the steak that was given to the magistrate and his friends. The farmers were given a stipend for the amount of produced food that they destroyed – after the magistrate and his government friends took what they wanted.

 Most of the citizens no longer could afford to own any kind of automobile. The government men had cars and trucks but the citizens? Not allowed.

 Another thing that wasn’t allowed was any sort of congregating – unless it was sanctioned and run by the government. If two people were seen on the street having a conversation, they were severely beaten – to teach them and others a lesson.

 All the citizens walked with their heads hung down to avoid any eye contact with another person.

This didn’t happen just in New York where Andrew Durant’s prison was situated. This was throughout the country and its surroundings allies. The Magistrate, Arthur Carlson had his thumb on the world and seemed to enjoy every second.

 Now, here sat Andrew Durant, in the Magistrate’s office which was decorated to look like a very close second to Mussolini’s.

 Durant heard the rumors. Once you’re taken from the prisons, no matter what state they’re in, you’re never seen again. He knew this was a meeting that would determine his method of execution.

 His mind wandered back to the days before his capture.

 He silently prayed that his wife and children had escaped.

 Then he heard a quiet voice. “All you need to do is give us the names and addresses of your colleagues. Tell us where they are and we’ll release you. You’ll be free to go back to your family.”

 Durant knew that the only hope of turning this hideous Republic around and regaining some sort of Democracy was through the newly re-emerged Minutemen. His fellow friends and patriots. They had branches of these, as Durant would call them, True Americans scattered in every state, province and outer territory.

 The longer Durant kept his silence, the better chance America had to regaining its freedom – the same freedom that was taken for granted years before that let to its downfall initiated by a corrupt government.

 The longer Durant kept his silence, the more severe beating and tortures he endured.

 He braced himself for another hard hit from the club that Carlson was known to carry.

 He heard the smack of the club against the palm of Carlson’s hand.

 While the aches and pains that lingered from all the beatings and tortures, Durant achingly and slowly lifted his head, stared Carlson in the eyes and said, “You can go to hell. I’ll meet you there.”

 **

 **

 I read this book for the first time on my sixteenth birthday. My mom said it was one of the finest she’d ever read. It wasn’t easy putting it down to eat, to sleep. I was glad she’d given it to me on a weekend because it took me two days to read the book in its entirety.

 Yes, it’s that good.

 When and hopefully it’s when you read this, you’ll find many comparisons to today’s events. You’ll also see many situations that have happened in the past.  As I said, there are things she’s written that might make you say, “How did she know that would happen?” Well, she was reported to have the gift of foresight.

 Taylor Caldwell received the copyright for this book in 1952 and been reprinted several times.

 I still have the paperback copy my mom gave me sixty years ago and every few years, I read it again.

 How I wish I could give you a hint at the ending.

 Let’s just say, it’s bittersweet and while you might want to jump for joy, you’ll find a hitch in your breath that just might bring a tear to your eye.

 Yes, this book is available online and possibly even in your local library.

 Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did – and still do.