Ivan Doig - Prairie Nocturne

Almost all of Ivan Doig's novels are, like Doig himself, rooted in Montana - even when they stray out of the state. Prairie Nocturne takes as its jumping off point the communities of Two Medicine County, the fictional area of Montana based upon the ranching and farming area were Doig grew up. Earlier novels set here followed the lives of two intertwined families and they feuded over land and ancient disagreements. Prairie Nocturne takes two character briefly mentioned in other works and sets them up as disparate lovers and friends.

Susan Duff was the singing schoolchild in Dancing at the Rascal Fair, taught by one of that books main characters. By the time that Prairie Nocturne is set, she has developed into a brilliant opera singer and performer, whose career in Europe and America made her a famous name. Now retired back in Two Medicine County, she's teaching singing to unskilled children. Wes Williamson was her lover, though he was married and the potential scandal derailed his political career. Wes met Susan in France when she was there as part of a delegation to commerate the deaths of thousands of US servicemen in the trenches of World War One. Susan's husband had served with Wes, and they are brought together passionately.

Back in Montana Wes is a major landowner, a fair and liberal man, who is constantly trying to expand his holdings. Readers of other novels by Doig, set before and after this one, will know the Williamson family as the opponent over the hill, whose ranching often frustrates smaller farmers. Their hope to get the McCaskill land forms much of the backdrop to other stories.

But in this between the wars novel, Wes' finds that one of his ranchhands, Monty Rathbun, a black worker and Wes' chauffeur. Monty has in Wes' ears a brilliant voice that deserves to get out into the world and Wes returns to his former lover to give Monty the training he needs.

While the training of Monty and the launch of his steller career form much of the base of the novel, Monty's backstory as the son of a Buffalo Soldier on the Plains during the war against the Native Americans and Wes and Susan's story are also central. Doig's traditional weaving of stories and times together give a characteristic epic feel to the book. But there are two other linked factors that make this book a cut above the average. The first is the question of racism. Montana had, and has, a very small black population, and thus black people do not feature frequently in Doig's novels. Nor do Native Americans, but that's a separate problem. Monty's presence, and particularly his (chaperoned) lessons with Susan are cause for comment and lead to the KKK making itself known. These scenes are traumatic but speak to a reality that is often forgotten among those who know Montana for its natural beauty.

The second, linked, factor is Monty's destination. While destined to become a famous singer across America, it is in Harlem, as part of the Harlem Renaissance where he comes into his own. This part of the book is well done and Doig gets across a real sense of Harlem as a place of refugee and cultural innovation, as well as poverty and crime. 

These stories link well. It's one of the stronger of Doig's novels and while some readers will enjoy the links to earlier stories and novels, this is a book that can be read independently.

Related Reviews

Doig - This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind
Doig - Bucking the Sun
Doig - Winter Brothers: A season at the edge of America
Doig - English Creek
Doig - Dancing at the Rascal Fair
Doig - Ride With Me, Mariah Montana