South Bend, Indiana, offered a glimpse into America’s industrial future sixty years ago when the Studebaker automobile plant closed its doors in 1963. This event marked the beginning of the decline of American manufacturing and the devastation of Midwestern cities. With seven thousand people losing their jobs in a town of 130,000, the effects of this abandonment still linger to this day. Surprisingly, the legacy of decline in South Bend has become the inspiration behind a highly acclaimed debut novel by Tess Gunty, a 30-year-old author hailing from the city.
Gunty, who was born three decades after the closure of Studebaker, believes that the consequences of economic decline have a deeply personal impact. She explains, “They are anchored in the beating hearts of those that you know and love.” Gunty takes CBS News’ Robert Costa on a tour of South Bend, showing him the neighborhood where she spent her formative years. Her novel, titled “The Rabbit Hutch,” is set in a fictional city inspired by her hometown. The story revolves around the protagonist, Blandine Watkins, and her experiences living in a shabby apartment building called the Rabbit Hutch. When asked if Gunty sees herself in Watkins, she replies, “No and yes. I’m Blandine in the sense that I am every single character in this book. You cannot write without infusing your own emotional experiences into each character.”
Gunty’s book follows the lives of Blandine and her roommates, who, after aging out of the foster care system, have not found a forever family. Although Gunty explores themes of abandonment and orphanhood in her book, her own experiences are different. She recalls being fortunate enough to have had unconditional love from her family throughout her life. However, she recognizes the importance of delving into the psychologies of characters who have truly been abandoned, as she perceives her hometown as an essentially orphaned place.
Raised by academic parents whose creativity surpassed their incomes, Gunty developed a sharp eye for details highlighting social class and status from a young age. She sheds light on suburban America’s new aristocracy in her writing, where people sport outdoor gear meant for mountain climbing in the Indiana suburbs. This is a phenomenon she personally experienced during her high school years. Gunty attended a Catholic school with subsidized tuition, which shed light on the relative economic positions of her family and her neighborhood friends who were suffering from extreme forms of neglect and poverty.
Last year, “The Rabbit Hutch” won the National Book Award for fiction, making Gunty the youngest recipient since the legendary novelist Philip Roth in 1960. This accomplishment has put her on the map at a time when literary fiction sales are declining, book banning is prevalent, and some question the relevance of a college English major. Gunty, however, remains a passionate advocate for her craft, viewing the book-reader relationship as a sacred imaginative collaboration rather than a consumer-product dynamic.
When asked if being a novelist is seen as old-fashioned, Gunty responds humorously, saying that some of her friends treat it as though she were a blacksmith. They are often surprised by the notion that novel writing is still a valid career choice. Despite the challenges, Gunty’s writing vibrates with ambition, showcasing her talent as a breakout novelist and a voice representing the people of Indiana.
She believes that Indiana, often referred to as the crossroads of America, is a state where the contradictions of the country collide and wage constant battles. Gunty challenges the notion that Indiana is a homogenous place with one set of ideals or one demographic. Instead, she paints it as a vast and mysterious place with diverse characteristics.
“The Rabbit Hutch” by Tess Gunty provides a compelling exploration of the economic and political issues of our times, proving that a literary novel can shed light on these complex themes. Gunty’s writing captures the essence of South Bend’s decline and serves as a powerful voice for the people of Indiana.
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