Scandalmonger

by William Safire

Book Overview

In a fictional exploration of America's early political scandals, James Thomson Callender, a muckraking journalist, reveals scandals in the lives of both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684867192
• ISBN13: 9780684867199
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 1.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Even better in audio

If the book receives a five '*' then the audio version should get a ten!!! The reader is an actor who successfully portrays women, men, foreigners, Southerners, New Englanders with equal virtuosity. This format made the already good historical novel a great one. The philosophical infighting and political cat-fighting of the period are not hard to find if one scratches the surface. This book traces the origins of the two party system through the lives of those who stood out in this era - Washington, Adams, Madison, Monroe but particularly Jefferson, Hamilton and the hilariously outrageous newspapermen of the day. Some are shocked to hear these icons so bitterly detested one another and in particular the many shenanigans of Jefferson who always contradicted his grand ideas with smarmy deeds. But the novel sets off in a new direction and the muckrakers become the heart and soul of the story. The language is incredible for its fidelity to the style of the time - though some are actual quotes from letters and papers - and indeed it reads like a historical diary. The story is also told from several points of view - Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams and best of all, the glorious muckrakers. It sounds odd, but the story had pathos, excitement and incredible amounts of humor. Especially considerate was the appendix at the end that traced the lives of the main characters in the novel.

The Powers that be

I vaguely recall reading some articles by Mr. Safire, but I've never read any of his books before. Well, I shall certainly remedy that. If Scandalmonger is any sign, William Safire might just be one of the most able writers in the US today.Seriously, it must have been six months since I've last enjoyed a novel as much as I have enjoyed this one. Written with clear, powerful and well thought of prose (In the afterwords, Safire reveals some of the tricks that he used in order to convey the atmosphere without falling into the use of anarchonisms), this book is always thrilling and often witty, for those of us who enjoy subtle, sharp irony.You don't have to reach the appendixes in order to realise the width of Safire's knowledge of the topic. Safire is clearly very well versed with the history of the period, and it shows. Not a very descriptive writer, Safire clearly knows alot about the personality of each and evry character in the novel. Writing with a Historian's dedicacy, even Safire's lies are rarely more than half truths.The Pacing and prose of Scandlemonger are perfect. It is a page turner, very well written and planned. Safire never lets his grip loose, and every word counts.The parallels between the US of the 1790s-1800s and the US of the 1990s-2000s are overwhelming, and surprisingly, you feel some appreciation to the history of journalism. I think it is impossible to read Scandalmonger without thinking about Monica Lewinski, but the novel will still be every bit as good when Lewiski, like Sally Hemmins, will be left as no more than an ancedote in US history.I can not recommand Scandalmonger enough. In each and every aspect it is a masterpiece of fiction. In one word: TRIUMPH.

Federal Period Politics Made Fascinating!

Wow! Want to get beneath the saccharine veneer most historians put on America's Federal Period? Want to see politics-as-usual so bad that you'll think today's politics-as-usual is positively altruism? Want to find out what life was like for newspaper editors in the days when truth was no defense against libel suits? Read Safire's Scandalmonger. Using their own letters and speeches, Safire gives us the Founding Fathers as we never saw them in our school rooms: the proud George Washington obsessed with his public image, the erratic and volatile John Adams, the dreamy and sensual Thomas Jefferson, the practical and flawed Alexander Hamilton, the crafty and self-assured Aaron Burr, the naive but loyal James Madison, and the coldly calculating, slightly reptilian James Monroe. And through it all walk two of the most remarkable, powerful newspapermen in American history, William Cobbett and James Callender, bitter enemies in politics but accidental allies in promoting freedom of the press. Adding to the book's educational and entertainment value, Safire reveals his sources and separates truth from fiction at the end of his novel. Novel? Well, maybe.

Times change, but people don't!

A popular, charismatic politician cannot be proven guilty of financial misdeeds. His enraged enemies keep digging and digging until they find personal dirt. No, this was not the Clinton scandal. It was what happened to Alexander Hamilton during Washington's presidency - and he was forever barred from higher office thereafter. That is just the beginning of the story. John Adams looses a chance for a second term after a diplomatic scandal, but that's nothing compared to the skeletons that will arise from Thomas Jefferson's closet. Will all be revealed?After reading this book, one truly believes it's a miracle that our country survived it's infancy. Think about it - this mudslinging was going on before anyone even knew if England was going to invade anytime soon. After all, the Revolution was only a generation old. The story is riveting from beginning to end, and these are not your elementary school founding fathers. James Madison comes off likable, if weak willed; and you feel bad for Adams, who for all his faults stayed on the straight and narrow. But most of the rest are a veritable viper's den. Monroe is the ultimate Machiavellian; and Jefferson is much, much worse - at least Monroe knows what he is - Jefferson doesn't even realize what he has become.The shocking ending is based on fact, but much is Safire's conjecture. It's up to each reader to decide how close to the truth he's hit - but you leave with the uneasy feeling that he may be uncomfortably close to home.

History Twistery Lies Truth Or Mysteries?

Twistery is the word used by the Author, William Safire, to qualify where he strayed from known facts. He provides a detailed explanation at the end so there is no confusion. It is impossible for me to judge, but I am confident that to the extent he twisted known history, it is a small part of this book. If he had stayed absolutely faithful to facts as they are known, but continued the novel-like style, as opposed to dry recitation of fact like many textbooks do, the book would be diminished just a bit.The Players are not new, nor are the stories. Mr. Safire's gift is his ability to transform what can often be the tedious study of dates and facts, into a thrilling read. If he were to write textbooks, without literary license, the study of our Country's History would reach new levels of popularity.Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, James Monroe, Dr. Benjamin Rush, all old and familiar, but all new here. Duels, stolen letters, written admissions of guilt, peculation, and pecadillos, these bits are all true. The Alien and Sedition act, one of the most notorious pieces of legislation in our Country's History plays a prominent role. Add then murder, wrongful imprisonment, treason, and trials with "The Hanging Judge" Samuel Chase.And to bring the story into the present, the analyses of certain persons DNA to at once settle 200-year-old questions/accusations. Or do they not?It may sound strange to say that I don't want to give any of the book's stories away, for how can you give away what is historical fact? But with or without the twistery, the book makes old information fresh, and shows that our elected officials today, and the press that follow their every breath have changed oh so little.Buy it, you'll love it!