The
Ancient Nine by Ian Smith
is based on his time as a Harvard student in the 1980s. Readers
might think of a fraternity, where male students rush to join,
in this case, it is called “punched.” As with
fraternities, there is hazing, sexism, and underage drinking.
But these “final clubs” are not fraternities but
are secret societies that have been in existence since the
1700s, with many of the rules of its members very archaic.
Harvard University conjures up images of a very prestigious
and exclusive school whose acceptance rate is only 5.2% of
its applicants. Within the surrounding million dollar mansions
are privileged all male clubs. Smith told how pressure is
put on these clubs to integrate. They have allowed token blacks,
Jews, and Hispanics, but not women. Because these groups are
not associated with the University, it claims its hands are
tied. What they have done is to prohibit any student who has
participated in these clubs from holding leadership positions
in student government, refusing them any recommendations for
scholarships, and not permitting them to be a captain on any
varsity team. Unfortunately, the faculty and alumni are pushing
back saying it is a violation of free association rights.
The character Spenser Collins is actually the fictional personality
of Smith, while his friend Dalton Winthrop is a compilation
of people that he knew at Harvard. As in the book, he recounts
how he received an invitation while a sophomore that was slipped
under his door. Only ten to twenty students are chosen out
of an original invitation to 250 students. Smith noted, “Founded
in the nineteenth the Delphic Club has had titans of industry,
Hollywood legends, including Matt Damon, heads of state, and
power brokers among its members. It is a who’s who with
members from the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, and
Kennedys.”
Smith explained, “Spenser is me. I was raised by a single
mom, from a working-class family, pre-med, and played basketball.
I never heard of the Delphic Club but found out that it was
more of a microcosm of a country club. Members are able to
have lifelong interactions and engagements. Members get access
to some of the most powerful people in this country, are a
part of the inner circle, and are able to network.”
The fictional part comes into play after Spenser in researching
the club’s past learns that a Harvard student, Erasmus
Abbott, vanished in 1927 after attempting to break into the
Delphic Club. Spenser decides to investigate, and the path
to the truth, of course, proves perilous. A club within a
club is the Ancient Nine. It is even more secretive, this
shadowy group of alums whose identities are unknown and whose
power is absolute. The more the friends investigate, the more
questions they unearth, tangling the story of the club, the
disappearance, and the Ancient Nine, until they realize their
own lives are in danger.
Considering that the book details graphic scenes of what should
be considered sexual abuse it is a surprise that someone has
not come out against these men who appear to have had a MeToo
Movement moment. A scene in the book, at the end of an offsite
ritual, pledgers are presented with a group of beautiful women,
wearing nothing but high heels, who stand waiting to “entertain”
them. Smith noted, “I think the MeToo Movement focused
on guys who used their power to suppress and manipulate women.
They abused their power and harassed women. They should be
taken down. But what happened in the Clubs are just bad relationships
and guys doing some bad things, which has happened for 1000’s
of years. I would not shut the door on a woman coming out
and saying ‘I was at this party and this happened to
me.’”
Harvard and Cambridge are characters in the book. “I
wanted to write how the location plays an important role.
Harvard has its own brand and own assumptions people make
about it. There are images, visions, and beliefs. I had the
characters interact with the campus and its surroundings.
I purposely sprinkled some history of the University as readers
get to know this character, Harvard.”
What Smith wants readers to get out of it, “These are
independent clubs with their own land, own mansions, and is
not part of the University. The problem is the University
does not own these clubs, so there is no official link with
it. I hope people think about what goes on behind closed doors.
The time has come for these clubs to be open and the exclusion
should be eradicated.”
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