The Heat Brings Recollection of Favorite Literature

An article detailing the toll that the heat takes on temper is written on page 3A of today's local newspaper.  It seems that hot weather causes an increase in violence, both domestic and battery, in our area.  The article reports that magistrates write increasingly more protective orders, RDVIC sees an increase in clientele, and the sheriff's department reports a growing number of battery cases as the temperature rises.


For me, the rise in the heat index brings fond memories of two of my favorite pieces of literature.  The first, which I think clearly defines the manic tendencies oppressive heat might bring, is the short story August Heat, written by William Fryer Harvey in 1910.  It is the story of an artist who on one insufferably hot August day draws the best sketch of his life: a picture of a man who has just been sentenced for an unknown crime.  Later the artist goes for a long walk, lost in reverie, and happens to meet for the first time the subject of his sketch, a stonemason who is working on a gravestone.  The gravestone has the artist's name and date of birth carved in the marble stone.


When the heat of a summer day gets to me, I revisit the last two lines in the story: 
       "But the heat is stifling.  It is enough to send a man mad."


The other piece of literature is Natalie Babbitt's beautifully written Tuck Everlasting.  The prologue is long and windy, much like the slow days of summer.  Here I find my favorite quote: 

      The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat on a Ferris wheel when it pauses it turning.

Babbitt continues that all the days and weeks leading up to the first week of August are a slow steady climb to the peak of Summer and that all the days after the first week of August are a rapid descent into Fall.  I believe this is true.


I hope you enjoy reading August Heat.  I highly recommend that every parent read Tuck Everlasting to his child. Personally, I would have to say that sharing the book with both my children at the appropriate age (10 and up) was one of my most rewarding parenting experiences.


I hope we all can keep our cool during the next few weeks and enjoy the fleeting days of summer.  That rapid descent into Fall will come very soon.














Harvey, William Fryer. "August Heat." Donald Tyson's Supernatural World. Donald Tyson, 2007. Web. 26 Jul 2010. .


Lombardi, Esther. "'Tuck Everlasting' Quotes." About.com:Classic Literature. New York Times, 2010. Web. 26 Jul 2010.