1876: A Novel

1876: A Novel

book data

241 ratings, 3.71 average rating, 12 reviews (more data...)

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published

February 15th 2000 by Vintage

binding

Paperback, 384 pages

isbn

0375708723 (isbn13: 9780375708725)

description

The more things change, the more they stay the same: "The last few days would have brought down any parliamentary government. As it is, the Grant...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 319)

All ratings | 5 stars (37) | 4 stars (108) | 3 stars (83) | 2 stars (11) | avg 3.71

all | this edition

nicky

nicky rated it:

01/30/08

Read in December, 2007

recommends it for: history buff socialites

i like historical fiction. i also like books that take place in 19th century new york city. that being said, this book contains both those elements but just didn't do it for me. gore vidal is a phenomenal writer (as if gore f*ing vidal needs me to validate that) but here he gets too pre-occupied with NYC high society and the story goes nowhere. or maybe the NYC socialites were the whole story. either way i had a hard time finishing it. the first person memoir style was killing me by the en...more

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Daniel

Daniel rated it:

07/26/07

As America approached its bicentennial in post-Watergate/Vietnam/Embargo disarray, Gore Vidal published this account of another low point in American history: the elections of 1876, a.k.a. the FIRST Supreme Court-decided, Florida-related presidential debacle.

The main character, Charles Schermerhorn Schuyler, is a political journalist who has just returned to the States after a lengthy stay in Europe. Sent to "Washington City" to cover the approaching elections, he becomes acquainte...more As America approached its bicentennial in post-Watergate/Vietnam/Embargo disarray, Gore Vidal published this account of another low point in American history: the elections of 1876, a.k.a. the FIRST Supreme Court-decided, Florida-related presidential debacle.

The main character, Charles Schermerhorn Schuyler, is a political journalist who has just returned to the States after a lengthy stay in Europe. Sent to "Washington City" to cover the approaching elections, he becomes acquainted with, then absorbed by, the political class there. In his many social engagements, he finds more than enough material for his chronicles of political intrigue. Scandal flows through the age like debris down the muddy Potomac.

In the extremely intimate narrative, Schuyler chronicles political society before and during the contested presidential election of Tilden (D-NY) v. Hayes (R-OH).

While Tilden wins the popular vote by a comfortable margin, his victory is instantly in doubt. In a few southern states - Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, as well as in Oregon - his margin is vulnerable. With Reconstruction still in effect, President Grant (R-The Union) holds extraordinary (armed) sway in the South. With Blue troops at Grant's command, and sympathetic officials stationed in the contested states, the Republicans decide to fight the returns.

In the political battle which followed, rumors of a Civil War rematch began to fly. Meanwhile, Tilden and Hayes remained silent as politics ran their course. With the creation of a Judicial-Congressional panel charged with breaking the deadlock, the deciding vote in the election landed in the hands of a Republican-leaning Supreme Court Justice.

As the outcome of the election materialized - a Hayes victory, in return for the end of Union occupation in the South - Schuyler underwent a subtle personal transformation. Dogged by ill health, he noted the changing lives of his friends and the surprising marriage of his daughter, Emma. With his ambassadorial ambitions shelved by Tilden's concession, and his personal business coming to a close, Schuyler makes his final observations - philosophical in tone - then bows out.

Vidal notes that while Schuyler and Emma and a few other characters are fictional, the majority of the characters are real and that the plot unfolds just as history did. He notes that, from the standpoint of 1975, times were once again becoming too interesting for comfort. Good thing Mr. Vidal has been around to share his observations of both past and present. Highly recommended for scandal junkies, political gossipers, and modern day rupture-talkers.
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zeus

zeus is currently reading it

08/17/08

bookshelves: currently-reading, started-but-not-finished

Read in November, 2007

recommended to zeus by: Chris G

I've been reading this book FOREVER. I actually rather like it: it's witty and snarky and just plain fun, which is exactly what I didn't expect it to be. I don't have an explanation for why it's taking me so darn long to read it. When I (eventually!) finish it I'll be as glad as anyone (*ahemCHRISahem*).

update 4/27/08 ... I may never finish this book. I fail.

update 8/17/08 ... I fail. (*sigh*)

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Samir

Samir rated it:

07/08/07

Read in October, 2002

recommends it for: anyone interested in a juicy perspective of America's political past

I consider Gore Vidal one of our country's (America) greatest historians. Vidal's research coupled with his flare for sorted, personal details delivers American histories that are FAR more fun to read than the 10th grade US History text books - and more true to actual happenings, I'd venture to say.

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Nikki

Nikki rated it:

07/03/08

The 2000 election wasn't the only election in our history that wasn't left purely to the public. Really interesting, but definitely should be accepted as historically flourished.

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Erik Simon

Erik rated it:

05/26/08

This was the other in the series I really love. 1876 is one of the defining years in our country's history, and this book, through a great story, lays out all the reasons why.

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Kim

Kim rated it:

10/07/07

Read in April, 2001

historical fiction:1876 America-----------Washington politics - least favorite of Burr, Lincoln, and 1876

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Kym

Kym added it

07/23/08

Read in July, 2008

George W. wasn't the first to become president b/c of a rigged election....we forget about Hayes!!!

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josie

josie rated it:

04/06/08

Read in February, 2008

Entertaining for anyone into historical gossip. Not Gore Vidal's best, but a good enough read.

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Daniel

Daniel rated it:

07/19/07

Read in July, 2007

This is part of his trilogy along with "Burr" and "Washington, DC"

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Mark

Mark is currently reading it

10/27/08

bookshelves: currently-reading

So far so good. Vidal seems to have a cryptic style

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B.lyon

B.lyon rated it:

07/03/07

Read in January, 2006

took me a long time to read but I was busy

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Matt

Matt rated it:

12/04/08

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Erin

Erin rated it:

12/01/08

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Mitchell

Mitchell rated it:

12/01/08

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Kristen

Kristen rated it:

12/01/08

bookshelves: historical-fiction

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Cameron

Cameron marked it as to-read

11/30/08

bookshelves: history, to-read

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David Hord

David rated it:

11/30/08

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Wes

Wes marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0345346262)

11/29/08

bookshelves: to-read

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Matthew

Matthew marked it as to-read

11/26/08

bookshelves: to-read

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