A novel of the reagan years kindle edition by thomas. In this novel, mallon watergate fixes his wideangle historical lens on the presidency of ronald reagan, in particular the events leading up to the expose of the irancontra affair in 1986. A novel of the reagan years is full of witty, sometimes withering and often surprisingly sympathetic portraits of the characters clustered around the everunknowable president. A novel of the reagan years, john carter brown, director of the national gallery of art, and pamela harriman, the oftenmarried socialite. My acquaintance with thomas mallon began about twenty years ago when i discovered his novel henry and clara, his riveting novel about the couple seated next to abraham lincoln when he was assassinated at the ford theater. Set mostly in 1986 and 1987, it is a political drama. Reykjavik, gorbachev, star wars, iran, contras, aids. Finale takes listeners to the political gridiron of washington in 1986, the wealthiest enclaves of southern california, and the volcanic landscape of iceland, where the president engages in two almost. A novel of the reagan years kindle edition by mallon, thomas. It is the most entertaining and panoramic novel about american politics since advise and consent, more than a. Thomas mallon born november 2, 1951 is an american novelist, essayist, and critic.
Finale takes listeners to the political gridiron of washington in 1986, the wealthiest enclaves of southern california, and the volcanic landscape of iceland, where the president engages in two. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This novel of the reagan years shows how the 40th president dominated those around him without revealing himself. So, no surprise, mallons three most recent novels watergate. Christopher lane from the author of the acclaimed novel watergate comes a galvanizing new novel about the tumultuous administration of the most consequential and enigmatic president of modern timesronald reagan. The story begins in 1976 and ends in 1996 covering events that preceded ronald reagan s election as president until his increasing decline related to dementia. Chicago tribune a splendid example of the genre at its best. A novel of the reagan years thats packed with reallife barbs.
Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading finale. Persons real and fictional puzzle over ronald reagan in. Captures the crusading ideologies, blunders, and glamour of the stillhotlydebated reagan years, taking readers to the political gridiron of washington, the wealthiest enclaves of southern california, and the volcanic landscape of iceland, where the president engages in two almost apocalyptic days of negotiation with mikhail gorbachevdust jacket flap. A novel of the reagan years and millions of other books are available for instant access. A new york times notable book a washington post notable book one of the best books of the year. Several weeks ago, i had the delight of seeing the author of finale. A new york times notable book a washington post notable book one of the best books of the.
Finale is the book that thomas mallons work has been building toward for years. Our current presidency is more like fiction than ever seemed possible a. Nancy reagan is a complete nervous wreck, tortured by the premonitions and prophesies of her. Famously called the teflon president, reagan may be less elusive to historical fiction than he was to the days headlines. A novel of the reagan years at a book reading at a local independent bookstore. The acknowledgments page may seem an odd starting point for assessing a novel, but in the case of thomas mallons finale, set during ronald reagan s second term as president, it is a useful place to begin. Mallon then began publishing fiction, a genre in which hed informally dabbled.
From the author of the acclaimed novel watergate comes a galvanizing new novel about the tumultuous administration of the most consequential and enigmatic president of modern timesronald reagan. His wife, nancy, who confers with her astrologer about the presidents actions and with merv griffin on everything. A novel of the reagan years reprint by thomas mallon isbn. From the author of the acclaimed novel watergate comes a galvanizing new novel about the tumultuous administration of the most consequential and enigmatic president of modern times ronald reagan. Finale quotes by thomas mallon goodreads share book. Finale a new york times notable book a washington post notable book one of the best books of the year. Join us at roosevelt house as we welcome thomas mallon, one of the finest historical novelists at work today, who will discuss his new book finale. Mallons confidently portrays the innerdialogue of public figures like nancy reagan, christopher hitchens, pamela harriman, and richard nixon, but reagan remains an enigma to him, as well as to his characters in finale. The questions, discussion topics, and reading list that follow are intended to enhance your reading groups discussion of finale.
Using his strength within in the historical fiction genre, mallon parachutes the reader into the life of. This, you know, this novels not an apology for the reagan years. A novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon from amazons fiction books store. But i do think that we are so polarized today, politically, that in some ways were its beginning to affect.
A novel of the reagan years, one of the new york times 100. We see the prime actors of the reagan years as they try to negotiate an arms control agreement and an acceptance on the part of the soviets of star. A novel of the reagan years is full of witty, sometimes withering and often surprisingly. Readers of finale, thomas mallons sly and penetrating ninth novel, are well aware that the book s protagonist, the nations 40th president, is destined to be revered as the republican.
Persons real and fictional puzzle over ronald reagan in finale nprs linda wertheimer interviews thomas mallon about his new work of historical fiction. He was very engaging, funny, and showed a rare gift for mimicry, evoking the voices of ronald reagan, richard nixon, and a few other historical figures from the mid to late 1980s. San francisco chronicle, the daily beast, the miami herald, st. Finale captures the crusading ideologies, blunders and glamour of the stillhotlydebated ronald reagan years, taking readers to the political gridiron of washington, the wealthiest enclaves of southern california, and the volcanic landscape of iceland, where the president engages in two almost apocalyptic days of negotiation with mikhail gorbachev. And so began our small literary friendship that has resulted in my continued interest and appreciation of his novels and thus a number of interview conversations. A novel of the reagan years, thomas mallon 2015 july 21, 2016 by bob reutenauer engrossing pageturner novel of contemporary political fiction allowing vivid insight to the critical sequence of recent history that unfolded on the world stage mid way through reagan s second term. For those readers who have lived through the reagan years, finale, a novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon will almost seem more heavily weighted towards history than historical fiction. Finale, a novel of the reagan years, is a factfiction combination of historical sketches and imagined experience. The book is the fictionalized account of the tumultuous administration of the most consequential and enigmatic president of modern times. Using his strength within in the historical fiction genre, mallon parachutes the reader into the life of ronald reagan at a time when the world was watching, and holding their collective breath. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Watergate, is a splendid example of the genre at its best. Reagan is preparing for his second summit with gorbachev on nuclear disarmament. A novel of the reagan years audiobook by thomas mallon. I have operated along the always sliding scale of historical fiction, mallon writes, reprising a declaration he made regarding watergate, his previous book. Vintage thomas mallons chatty, clever, often deliciously wicked finale. Nixon watched it, the usual mixture of feelings stirred in him. Gorbachev, thatcher, the gipper himselfthe gangs all here and. A novel of the reagan years mallons latest novel adds to a fiction chronicle that has already spanned american history from the lincoln assassination, in henry and clara, to the watergate scandal, and brings to life the tumultuous. A novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon goodreads. Louis postdispatch before there was reagan the conservative icon, there was reagan the president. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.