by John Lithgow
First published 2021
John Lithgow presents his third collection of satirical poems targeting American corruption across history. This installment examines 25 notorious figures who abused power long before the Trump era. Lithgow's verse portraits span centuries of American misconduct, from the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan to participants in the Capitol insurrection. His rogues' gallery includes Boss Tweed, Typhoid Mary, Leona Helmsley, and politicians from Watergate conspirators to contemporary figures like Ted Cruz and Newt Gingrich. The actor-author pairs his cutting verse with original illustrations, creating dark lyrical stories that expose forgotten villains alongside familiar bad actors. Lithgow demonstrates how corruption, criminal behavior, racism, and abuse of power have plagued American leadership throughout history. His wit transforms these cautionary tales into an entertaining reminder that today's scandals echo past misconduct.
Genres: satire, american, political-science, social-issues, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: cautionary-tale, dark-comedy, historical-parallels
Setting: America, Capitol
Period: 21st-Century, Historical
104 pages · Hardcover · Chronicle Prism
Content warnings: abuse, racism