Historical Fiction
129 books |
64 voters
book data
241 ratings, 3.71 average rating, 12 reviews
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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)
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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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
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
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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*)
update 4/27/08 ... I may never finish this book. I fail.
update 8/17/08 ... I fail. (*sigh*)
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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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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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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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Read in April, 2001
historical fiction:1876 America-----------Washington politics - least favorite of Burr, Lincoln, and 1876
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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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Read in February, 2008
Entertaining for anyone into historical gossip. Not Gore Vidal's best, but a good enough read.
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Read in July, 2007
This is part of his trilogy along with "Burr" and "Washington, DC"
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So far so good. Vidal seems to have a cryptic style
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Read in January, 2006
took me a long time to read but I was busy
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