Description
By: Henry Adams (1838-1918)
“Democracy – An American Novel” by Henry Adams is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the intricacies of American politics and society. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Madeleine Lee, readers are able to navigate the complexities of Washington D.C. and the political landscape of the late 19th century.
The novel delves into the themes of power, corruption, and the struggle for political influence in a rapidly changing world. Adams skillfully weaves together a narrative that sheds light on the inner workings of government and the personal sacrifices that individuals are willing to make in order to achieve their goals.
While the plot may at times be dense and the language antiquated, the novel remains engaging and relevant to contemporary readers. Adams’ keen observations on democracy and the flaws inherent in the American political system are as pertinent today as they were when the novel was first published.
Overall, “Democracy – An American Novel” is a compelling and thought-provoking read that offers a unique perspective on the challenges of governance and the pursuit of power. Adams’ insight into the American experience is both illuminating and enduring, making this novel a worthwhile addition to any reader’s collection.
Book Description:
Not until after his death in 1918 was it revealed that Henry Adams was the anonymous author of Democracy, which had been published to great acclaim in 1880. Though the book avoids dates and the characters are fictitious, the setting is no doubt that of Washington in the 1870s, the age of Presidents Grant and Hayes. The young widow, Madeleine Lee, wealthy and independent, is the protagonist, who leaves her New York for Washington to turn her intelligence to politics and to see what makes her country tick. There she meets (among others) Senator Silas P. Ratcliffe of Illinois, one of the most powerful and influential (if somewhat uncultured) men of the capital, who is considering a run for the presidency, and who needs a wife to act as First Lady, a position that (he thinks) Mrs. Lee would admirably fill.
Through the book Adams plays with the themes of political necessity, compromise, corruption — particularly the kind of corporate domination of national politics that he saw becoming all too powerful. Should honest and intelligent men keep their integrity by avoiding politics? Or would that simply mean turning over the governance of the country to power-hungry, scheming, and none too honest hacks? For all the witty conversations in his novel, this was a theme that plagued Adams (a presidential grandson) in life as well as literature, and it is a theme that has by no means disappeared today.
(Introduction by Nicholas Clifford)
