The best politcal novel of the year by a landslide, primary colors is the riveting story of a governorfromasmallstates quest for the presidency, and a jaded beltway insiders search for a leader to believe in. A novel of politics kindle edition by anonymous, klein, joe, joe klein. Shorn of its silly final third, primary colors addresses two weeks in american political history the last furlong of the democratic primary in new hampshire in 1992. A novel of politics still credited to anonymous, narrated by actor blair underwood.
A novel of politics by anonymous 15 editions first. The book is the product of longterm study and thinking, and i am happy to recommend it with great, great enthusiasm. Oct 23, 2019 some of the best political writing cant be found in newspapers or magazines or any nonfiction in general. Its a superb filmfunny, insightful and very wise about the realities of political life. Joe klein born september 7, 1946 is an american political commentator and author. Est 2050 gmt cnn it hit book store shelves with a thud heard all over capitol hill. Primary colors popularity seems more a result of the authors desire to. Anonymous author of trump resistance oped to publish a. Primary colors started out life as a bestselling novel written by an anonymous author who seemed to be writing a disguisedinsider account of the bill clinton administration. May 01, 2018 books about politics can still be universal, so always keep that emotional core in mind as you write. What is your novels attitude toward the political world. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in more than a. Primary colors does not aspire to, nor does it achieve, the lofty heights of robert penn warrens great novel of huey long, all the kings men.
Griffith, emeritus in english, the university of washington this book is a worthy successor to irving howes 1957 classic, politics and the novel. Joe klein, who published the novel primary colors anonymously in 1996, discusses the anonymous author of the new york times oped thats. A novel of politics by anonymous and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Sep 18, 2016 joe conasons man of the world, an account of bill clintons postpresidential years, sheds light on clintons strengths and weaknesses. Three colors, red, yellow, and blue, which can be combined in various proportions to produce any other color. Spending nearly a year on the new york times bestseller list, this blockbuster novel has sold well over one million copies.
Be clear about what purpose politics will serve in your book. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. The satirical bestselling novel about a clintonesque presidential campaign is engaging but ultimately disappointing. A novel of politics and millions of other books are available for instant access. Jan 16, 1996 primary colors is a strange beast of a political thriller, a novel based on the 1992 clinton campaign, where the names have been changed and some events altered. It is a roman a clef a work of fiction based on real people and events about bill clintons first presidential campaign in 1992. Sep 09, 2018 primary colors author joe klein on anonymous oped joe klein, who published the novel primary colors anonymously in 1996, discusses the anonymous author of the new york times oped thats shaken. The following entry presents criticism on kleins novel primary colors 1996. The electoral campaign of a southern governor for the presidency of the united states.
Dec 31, 2018 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. But it certainly takes its place among the better political novels ever written. Joe kleins novel was originally released anonymously, though intrepid reporters soon tied him to it. He is best known for his work as a columnist for time magazine and his novel primary colors, an anonymously written roman a clef portraying bill clintons 1992 presidential campaign. Joe conasons man of the world, an account of bill clintons postpresidential years, sheds light on clintons strengths and weaknesses. A look back at primary colors, which changed the way we talk and joke about politics. A novel of politics 1996, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. In washingtons political and journalistic circles, the talk is all about primary colors, a thinly disguised account of bill clintons long march to the democratic presidential nomination.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 384 pages and is available in paperback format. Author of all aboard, folklore and legends, beowulf, my secret life, las mil y una noches, primary colors, an introduction to calculus, the song of roland. The identity of the books author is, for the moment, a mystery. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The story paints a picture of the political state of the nation so vivid that one finds in it the deepest kind of truth the kind of truth. Primary colors would seem just about as good, as tough and as smart, if there had never been a president named bill clinton. After the washington post discovered kleins handwriting on a copy of a manuscript of the novel, the. So henry burton, the rather unconvincingly halfblack narrator, signs on as stantons deputy campaign manager and heads with him to new hampshire. A novel of politics when it was first published, the anonymouslyauthored primary colors an obvious roman a clef about the clintonstriggered a national guessinggame about the authors true identity. A look back at primary colors, which changed the way we. Primary colors by anonymous joe klein 366 pages, 1996, random house. Jack stanton is a charismatic governor of a southern state, a new kind of democrat who blends populist politics. The candidate in the book is called jack stanton and his icy blonde wife, susan, but primary colors would not survive for long without the instant decrypt.
The first edition of the novel was published in january 16th 1996, and was written by anonymous. Thus, the latest chapter in the primary colors saga concerns the books softening, so as not to offend the first couple. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The book is a fictionalized version of bill clintons 1992 run for president, from the scheming advisors to the extramarital affairs. Little wonder, since director mike nichols and screenwriter elaine may are known as clinton supporters. This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear. Primary colors sensationalized presidential politics in a way that no book. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Like politics itself, the ensuing account makes no pretense of beguiling the reader, instead dumping out fictionalized names and situations like toxic waste. A novel of politics by anonymous 1st edition chrislands provides an easy and affordable solution to operating your own online store. Primary colors book article about primary colors book. A novel of politics 1st edition1st printing anonymous, joe klein a handsome first editionfirst printing near fine condition in near fine dustjacket. Handwritten changes to the manuscript of the novel primary colors, the wildly successful satire of the 1992 clinton campaign by an author known only as anonymous, appear to match the.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading primary colors. A brilliant and penetrating look behind the scenes of modern american politics, primary colors is a funny, wise, and dramatic story with characters and. Where you have two people or two characters interacting, you have the potential for politics. A novel of politics ebook written by anonymous, joe klein. Novel politics aims to change the current consensus of thinking about the nineteenthcentury novel. Narrated by a halfblack campaign staffer, the novel follows the governorably assisted by his dynamic wife, a lawyeras he mixes calculation with sincerity, dodges a draftcontroversy bullet, gorges on barbecues, poaches off others plates, seduces the occasional innocent bystander and confronts the. Of course the movie resonates with its parallels to the lives of bill and hillary clinton, but its a lot more than a disguised expose.
Are you writing 1984 or primary colors or the handmaids tale or election. Primary colors author joe klein on anonymous oped joe klein, who published the novel primary colors anonymously in 1996, discusses the anonymous author of. When a former congressional aide becomes part of the staff of the governor of a small. It turned joe klein into a multimillionaire and made him the world. Discover the best books online or at your local bn bookstoreshop over 6 million books and 4. Jack stanton is a charismatic governor of a southern state, a new kind of democrat who blends populist politics with ivy league credentials.
May 02, 2000 crossfire primary colors author joe klein talks about political truth and fiction aired may 2, 2000 7. Primary colors is simply too good a novel for its author to squander a career in politics or. We all know that the election of a president is an instance of politics, but so is bullying. Ultimately, the book s theme is that if we keep politics clean without all of the mudslinging, the american populace and electorate will win in the end by getting the best possible.
The following entry presents criticism on kleins novel primary colors 1996 through 1997. A novel of politics is a 1996 book by columnist joe kleinpublished anonymouslyabout the presidential campaign of a southern governor. Political novels list of the best political fiction. The best political novels in american history offer sweeping and sometimes dystopian views of government and the people who run it. A brilliant and penetrating look behind the scenes of modern americ. A brilliant and penetrating look behind the scenes of modern american politics, primary colors is a funny, wise, and dramatic story with characters and events that resemble some familiar, reallife figures. A novel of politics is a 1996 book by columnist joe klein published anonymouslyabout the presidential campaign of a southern governor. Some of the best political writing cant be found in newspapers or magazines or any nonfiction in general. Klein utilized his experience as a political journalist, who specialized in election politics, to tell the story of jack stanton. Following primary colors s version of clinton comes o. It is a roman a clef a work of fiction based on real people and events about bill clinton s first presidential campaign in 1992.
So began one of the most infamous confessions in journalistic history. A novel of politics when it was published in 1996 was its roiling, pitchperfect, threedimensional portrait. With characters based on clintons inner circle, the book is a behindthescenes look at what happens during a political campaign. The book is obviously based on the clinton campaign in 1992 and it has the feel of an inside job. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read primary colors. Primary colors is a strange beast of a political thriller, a novel based on the 1992 clinton campaign, where the names have been changed and some events altered.
A presidential novel is primarily an uncolorful tellall. Primary colors is a great political novel for any political junkie as it relates to the election of a southern governor to the presidency of the united states. Reading primary colors, a novel about a cerain southern state governor who is handsome and charismatic with a wandering eye for the ladies, and running for the presidency, is almost like an alternative universe version of reliving bill clintons successful run in 1991. Oct 23, 2019 the 1996 publication of primary colors. A novel of politics by anonymous from amazons fiction books store. We have provided the new, used, outofprint, and antiquarian independent bookseller with a full ecommerce bookstore solution since 2001. Narrated by a halfblack campaign staffer, the novel follows the governorably assisted by his dynamic wife, a.
What, you were expecting travolta to do the honors. Primary colors portrays a convincing world of its own, peopled by smart cookies, nut cases, and wheelerdealers, whose public and private lives illuminate each other sometimes by casting dark shadows. A novel of politics caused a sensation in part because of the anonymity of its author, who was later revealed to be columnist joe klein. A novel of politics, joe kleins anonymously published novel based on a fictionalized clinton 92 campaign, covers the drama and daytoday victories and defeats of politicking in the early 1990s. A novel of politics and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This assumes that the novel is structured by bourgeois ideology and morality, so that its default position is conservative and hegemonic. Novel politics isobel armstrong oxford university press. A novel of politics, joe kleins anonymously published novel based on a fictionalized clinton 92 campaign, covers the drama and dayto. Parenting book lists favorite books for 1st graders favorite books for 1st graders check out our favorite books for first graders that are recommended by our panel of childrens book experts to enthrall, teach, and inspire your child. Aug 06, 2006 at the height of the clinton years, primary colors, his novel about a us president caught in a sex scandal, caused a sensation.
Klein is currently a member of the council on foreign relations and. A novel of politics by joe klein, anonymous, professor james jennings online at alibris. Primary colors joe klein full name joseph klein american journalist, biographer, nonfiction writer, and novelist. Primary colors was written by joe klein, a reporter that was following the 1992 clinton campaign. But it certainly takes its place among the better political novels. Still, for an unbridled take on the political scene, its nearimpossible to top the original source material, primary colors. Young henry burton, a former congressional aide of mixed race and the grandson of a legendary civil rights leader, is going through a precocious midlife crisis.
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