Democracy: An American Novel

by Henry Adams, Earl N. Harbert (Introduction)

Overview

An instant bestseller when first published in 1880, Democracy is the quintessential American political novel. At its heart is Madeleine Lee, a young widow who comes to Washington, D.C., to understand the workings of power. Pursued by Silas Ratcliffe, the most influential member of the Senate, Madeleine soon sees enough of power and its corrupting influence to last her a lifetime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780141908557
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	01/01/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	3 Months

About the Author

Henry Brooks Adams was an American novelist, journalist and historian. He was born in Boston in 1838 into one of the most prominent political families of the time - both his grandfather and great grandfather had been US Presidents. Adams graduated from Harvard in 1858 and later became a political correspondent and journalist.

Read an Excerpt

An immediate bestseller upon its publication in 1880, the anonymously penned Democracy prompted widespread speculation and guessing games as to its author’s identity. It is the story of Mrs. Lightfoot Lee, a society widow, and Silas Ratcliffe, the most influential member of the Senate, who, throughout the novel, pursues Mrs. Lee while at the same time battling her for power. Set in Washington in the 1870s, Democracy presents a scathing and incisive look at the intricate inner workings of politics and corruption that remains relevant today.
This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the 1880 first edition and includes a contemporary review from The Atlantic Monthly.

Author Biography: Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., is a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and biographer. His many books include A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House and, most recently, A Life in the 20th Century. He lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

[One] of the most perceptive books ever written about Washington.
— The New York Times

Maureen Dowd

[One] of the most perceptive books ever written about Washington.” —Maureen Dowd, The New York Times

“An entertaining tale of manners and an important meditation on democracy and its discontents—a narrative about politics that resonates even now, nearly 140 years after its first appearance.” —Jon Meacham, The New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher