Democracy: An American Novel

The authorship of DEMOCRACY: AN AMERICAN NOVEL published anonymously in 1880 was not made public until after the death of American historian HENRY BROOKS ADAMS (1838-1918) a member of the Adams political family and a journalist dedicated to exposing corruption. In this fictional tale with real-life relevance to late 19th-century politics an election sometime in the 1870s has given rise to a new president by the name of Jacob. Against this backdrop readers find New Yorker Madeleine Lee moving to Washington to revive her social life. She quickly starts playing hostess to a number of important politicians including John Carrington and Silas Ratcliffe men of opposite demeanors both of whom are looking for a wife. Entwined with this comedy of manners are Adamss own commentary on politics corruption and the great political issues of the day including suffrage and evolution.