State & Wacker

In this remarkable second novel by BurtZollo we meet Lyle Kopp a publicrelations man in Chicago during theSixties. P.R. at this time is still a relativelynew undefined profession and Koppis one of the pioneers in shaping thepublic perception of P.R. which is afterall all about shaping public perceptions.Kopp's world is one of publicity stuntspolitics romance family ambition andfriendships real and forced. It's a storyof a profession never before exploredso intimately and insightfully in fictionand the story of a family man whobalances a home life in suburbia with awork life in the city.<p></br><i>State & Wacker</i> is also very much thestory of Chicago which happens to beZollo's hometown. His Kopp is a savvyguy balancing the art and science of hisgrowing field while struggling with theawareness of the power of persuadingpublic opinion on behalf of his clients.Even the name Public relations is notfree from his scrutiny and this level ofconsideration gives this novel its depth:While he thought `public relations'was descriptive Zollo writes hefeared it might be considered deceptivenot as humble as he preferred. Hedidn't resent the variety of names hispractice had achieved; he simply didn'twant to appear as he explained `toogrand.' Public relations Kopp felt wasthe most maligned least understoodcreative practice. At its best he thoughtP.R. changed people's minds; at itsworst P.R. bred suspicion. Walkingthat line between being influential andmanipulative is where this novel lives.