Their involvement within a global class of artistic intellectuals, who are genuine comrades rather than merely useful to each other, is apparent through their shared values, freedom of expression, and respect of the rights of the person who is willing to labour in the service of others.
The intriguing characters are not merely incidental, and the plot is beautifully played out around their colourfully creative and revolutionary leanings. His complete lack of political guile makes him such an interesting vessel for steering this story, which is essentially based around the life and passions of others. The character of Harrison develops from a self contained undemanding boy who attempts to please his mother by essentially staying out of her way unless she needs him to be there, to a sensitive, warm and witty young man who pleases others by feeding them a diet of good food and good words. It is thoughtfully presented in diary entries and letters from Harrison, that cover ordinary matters of daily living and Harrisons development from childhood through to independence his experiences of love and sexuality friendships and relationships employment and cultural influences, within a political landscape that covers American and Mexican political history from the great depression to the beginning of the Cold War. Kingsolver has a fascinating ability to bring history, politics and fiction together (see Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible) with the use of intriguing real figures blended with an engaging plot that enables the reader to experience an intense empathy with the characters simultaneously learning a previously little known piece of historical narrative.
His encounters leads him to use his talent of observation to uncover the lacuna the difference between truth and perception of reality. His encounter with the Muralist Diego Rivera, and his fascinating Artist wife Freda Kahlo, whilst mixing plaster for them, whilst they are playing host to Len Trotsky, the exiled Bolshevik leader. Harrison keeps a journal of his life, which is largely lived out amongst servants and artisans. The Lacuna utilises the American Imperialist domination of Mexico during the early cold war period, when the US was neurotic about the rise of communism, for a well crafted story about the character Harrison, the son of a hapless father and status seeking mother, who finds caring for her son a bit of an inconvenience in her quest to attract well heeled men. Barbara Kingsolver is a master of well researched geo-politics.
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