First published 1990
Jonathan Schell reimagines the Nixon administration through the eyes of fictional characters navigating the turbulent political landscape of the early 1970s. The story follows protagonists caught between loyalty and conscience as they witness the unraveling of a presidency. Set against the backdrop of Vietnam, Watergate, and social upheaval, the narrative explores how ordinary people respond when power corrupts those they serve. Characters face impossible choices as they watch democracy strain under the weight of presidential overreach. The novel captures the moral complexity of an era when Americans questioned their institutions and leaders. Schell transforms historical events into personal drama, showing how political crisis reshapes individual lives and relationships.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: loyalty-vs-conscience, moral-complexity
Setting: United States
Period: 1970s
274 pages · Paperback · Vintage