First published 1987
James Carroll's protagonist finds himself deep within the corridors of power, where idealism meets the grinding reality of bureaucratic politics. The character must balance personal convictions against the demands of effective governance, discovering that meaningful participation in government requires difficult choices. Each decision carries consequences that ripple through both public policy and private conscience. The story explores how individuals can maintain integrity while working within flawed systems, revealing the tension between principled action and pragmatic compromise. At its heart, the novel examines whether one person can truly make a difference in the complex machinery of democratic government, and what that effort costs the soul.
Genres: american-fiction, political-science, 21st-century, government, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: moral-dilemma, principled-protagonist
170 pages · Hardcover · Policy Studies Assoc