Accordion Crimes
The protagonist of Proulx's latest book, Accordion Crimes, appears to be the little green accordion itself, for its life begins and ends the novel. Over a period of 100 years it belongs to many different owners and is always directly or indirectly involved in the good luck or tragedies in their lives.
The green accordion was built by a talented Italian whose aim was to make more accordions in America. But when he and his son arrive in New Orleans, the father has to take a job as a longshoreman. His main problem is communication. The songs he plays on the accordion are appreciated, but he can't speak a word of English. This leads first to his arrest and finally his death, because he can't explain himself to the law. His son, who learns a few words, changes his Italian name and is able to escape with the accordion.
Most of the owners of the green accordion are either immigrants from European countries, or sons or grandsons of immigrants. At the turn of the century, there was a noticeable prejudice against foreigners who moved to America to take away good jobs. These immigrants, rather than learn a new language, would form groups with their own people, and develop their own communities. And for them, the accordion provided a way to revive songs, dances or polkas from their homelands.
Over the years, the green accordion traveled across numerous states with different owners, but it was near the Mexican border that its value went up. The musician who had acquired the green accordion was being paid $1000 to deliver a package to a certain address. After each trip, because he feared he was involved in something illegal, he would paste the $1000 bill to the bellows of the accordion where they were practically invisible.
Many years (and owners) later, the accordion was tossed away near a highway and later run over by a truck. In its last breath, the old green accordion blew away all the $1000 bills, except for one which was found.
Proulx does an excellent job telling the story of each new owner of the green accordion, but these stories sometimes leave the accordion in the background. Her greatest talent, however, is shown in her figures of speech and her intriguing development of both characters and events.
Accordion Crimes was published in 1996 and is Proulx's forth book. The Shipping News, published in 1993, won her the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.