For many, Boston evokes prestigious universities such as Harvard, M.I.T. or Boston University. Even if the first two are actually located on the other side of the Charles River, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The first time I was in Boston, many years ago, after having visited some of the American revolution’s landmarks, we made sure to walk across Harvard’s campus. More recently, many of my short stays there were all motivated by conferences hosted by academic institutions. During one of my last trips, I woke up early to walk along the Charles River and snap a few pictures from the bridge that crosses it leading to Cambridge. In the morning cold, practicing university teams were rowing, gliding between its piles.
It would however be a mistake to only see in Boston a city of academics and other eggheads. The city has its working class, hardboiled neighborhoods. The contrast between these two sides of Massachussetts’s capital is vivid in « Good Will Hunting » and in particular in the Harvard bar scene in which Matt Damon, the prodigy from the poor neighborhoods, puts down an arrogant student who tried to impress girls and humiliate Ben Affleck with his academic knowledge. “You dropped 150 grand on a f*** education you could’ve got $1.50 on late charges at the public library”. Ironically, Matt Damon was born in Cambridge and studied at Harvard.
Dennis Lehane’s novel, « Mystic River » is located in Buckingham, one of Boston’s Irish working class neighborhood. If Buckingham is a fictive name made up by the author, the Mystic River actually exists, and away from the patrician Charles River, separates the well-to-do and the blue-collar parts of the city. Dennis Lehane has an intimate knowledge of these areas where manly values are prized, and solidarity is strong. To the point that it imposes a code of silence across streets threatened both by crime and gentrification.
Jimmy, Dave and Sean are three friends towards the end of childhood who play and mess around in the streets of Buckingham. A car with two men surprises them and stops. One of the men steps out. He is not in uniform but shows some kind of badge. He orders Dave to get in the back of the car so that they would “bring him back to his mother”. Dave obeys while Jimmy and Sean don’t move a finger. Dave reappears a few days later, brought back in a police car. But he seems changed.
Fifteen years later, Sean, who has joined the State Police, investigates the murder of a nineteen years old girl in a park. Quickly, it becomes clear that it is Katie, Jimmy’s daughter, who, after a stint in jail, settled down and owns a neighborhood corner store. Dave, who married Celeste, a cousin of Jimmy’s wife, pays them a visit when the family gathers for a meal after the death. Sean and his teammate stop by to present their condolences and ask a few questions. Dave appears somewhat strange.
It’s a hard novel, but a thrilling masterpiece, full of surprises. Clint Eastwood adapted it for the big screen in a great movie bringing together Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon for the three main characters.
The novel also addresses, in an indirect way, the issue of child sexual abuse. Another excellent movie, « Spotlight » tells the story of the investigations led by the « Boston Globe » reporters to uncover the scandal of the sex abuses perpetrated by some Catholic priests. The Irish neighborhoods, where the Church still yields enormous influence feature prominently. That influence was used to systematically cover up the crimes committed by some of its representatives.