Having read thomas mallon s previous novel, watergate, and having enjoyed that book immensely, i ordered finale as soon as i discovered the author had come out with it. Thomas mallon one of those rarities in the writing trade, a conservative adopts a similar approach in finale, a novel set in 1986. Finale by thomas mallon moves past watergate and into. Mallon s fictional treatment of president reagan supports the biographys contention that mr. Thomas mallon talked about his novel on president ronald reagan. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The program took place at the fourth annual san antonio book festival. A novel of the reagan years ebook written by thomas mallon. Thomas mallon born november 2, 1951 is an american novelist, essayist, and critic. The book is the fictionalized account of the tumultuous administration of. Mallon may well be the 21st centurys anthony trollope.
Thomas mallon books list of books by author thomas mallon. A novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon goodreads. Thomas mallons ten books of fiction include henry and clara, fellow travelers, watergate a finalist for the penfaulkner award, finale and the justpublished landfall. It was so early that i dont think i ever even wrote and discarded a scene that i had in which i had attempted. This novel of the reagan years shows how the 40th president. 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. Sep 15, 2015 covering a momentous several months in 1986, this is an intriguing, humorous, even catty backstage view of the reagan presidency from an artisan of the historical novel. A novel of the reagan years paperback august 9, 2016 by thomas mallon author. He did raise the appropriate age so that if biden gets in were going to have the altacocker primary in the democratic party, i mean between bernie and hillary and biden.
Reagan is preparing for his second summit with gorbachev. 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. 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. I must say, unfortunately, that i was a little disappointed with his latest effort and i contrast it unfavorably with his last book. Paines garage, as well as two books of essays rockets and. Finale, set in the reagan years, confirms thomas mallon as a master of political theater thomas mallon fictionalizes the life of averell harriman and other 20thcentury politicos in this novel. Louis postdispatch before there was reagan the conservative icon, there was reagan the president. Readers of finale, thomas mallons sly and penetrating ninth novel. Nine stars mallon has created a second superbly crafted that paints the presidency of a strong american surrounded by turmoil. I have operated along the always sliding scale of historical fiction, mallon writes, reprising a declaration he made regarding watergate, his previous book.
Finale a novel of the reagan years epub thomas mallon. It is the most entertaining and panoramic novel about american politics since advise and consent, more than a half century ago. Thomas mallons latest historical novel, finale, picks up effortlessly from his last. A novel of the reagan years hardcover by thomas mallon. A novel of the reagan years reprint by thomas mallon isbn.
Finale captures the crusading ideologies, blunders, and glamour of the stillhotlydebated reagan years. In the acknowledgments of his latest political novel, thomas mallon thanks a number of. Finale a new york times notable book a washington post notable book one of the best books of the year. Finale is the followup to mallons pennominated watergate, which looked at the unraveling of the nixon presidency with unrelenting detail and no small amount of sympathy. A new york times notable book a washington post notable book one of the best books of the. A novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon 2015, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. A novel of the reagan years, one of the new york times 100. Bush years, landfall brings thomas mallons cavalcade of contemporary american politics, which began with watergate and continue with finale, to a vivid and emotional climax. Marvelously detailed, often darkly funny, as informative as it is entertaining. Bush years against a backdrop of political catastrophe. Louis postdispatch adding to a fiction chronicle that has already spanned american history from the lincoln assassination to the watergate scandal, thomas mallon now brings to life the tumultuous administration of the most.
See all books authored by thomas mallon, including fellow travelers. In finale, he recreates the final days of the reagan administration using a large cast of characters based on actual people with a few fictitious ones thrown in mainly to develop plot elements. A novel of the reagan years, our fortieth president emerges as an enigmatic figure. Finale, set in the reagan years, confirms thomas mallon. Mallon works deftly with an ensemble cast, employing both reallife and fictitious characters. Certainly, reagan had business running for president. Finale is the book that thomas mallons work has been building toward for years. Thomas mallon s latest historical novel, finale, picks up effortlessly from his last. It is the most entertaining and panoramic novel about american politics since advise and consent, more than a. The washington post, san francisco chronicle, the daily beast, the miami herald, st. He is the author of nine books of fiction, including henry and clara, two. Digital audiobook 9142015 paperback 892016 compact disc 9152015 mp3 cd 9152015 compact disc 9152015. A novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon books.
A novel of the reagan years kindle edition by thomas. Now ive just read finale, which also blends fact and fiction, this time to tell the story of. In this extraordinary novel, thomas mallon takes us to the tense, highstakes months in 1986 whenwith the irancontra affair, the aids epidemic, and the reykjavik summit with. I read thomas mallon s novel about reagan s last years in the presidency shortly after reading h. Thomas mallon has written another novel fictionalizing american politics. The acknowledgments page may seem an odd starting point for assessing a novel, but in the case of thomas mallons finale, set during ronald reagans second term as president, it is a useful place to begin. Sep 24, 2015 thomas mallons latest historical novel, finale, picks up effortlessly from his last. A new york times notable book a washington post notable book one of the best books of the year.
I realized very early on in my research that i was just not going to be able to inhabit reagans head. A novel of the reagan years explores the last few years of the reagan administration focusing on the gorbachevreagan relationship and nuclear diplomacy, the developing irancontra scandal, and the domestic politics of the period. His novels are renowned for their attention to historical detail and context and for the authors crisp wit and interest in the bystanders to larger historical events. Sep 20, 2015 readers of finale, thomas mallons sly and penetrating ninth novel, are well aware that the books protagonist, the nations 40th president, is destined to be revered as the republican. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction.
Alternately muddleheaded and brilliantly articulate, mallons reagan is hard to read. Reagan witheld or curtained off his essential self if there is such a thing from others. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. He has also written volumes of nonfiction about plagiarism stolen words, diaries a book of ones own, letters yours ever and the kennedy assassination mrs. Thomas mallons new novel, finale, his ninth work of fiction, bills itself as a novel of the reagan years. Jan 14, 2016 the acknowledgments page may seem an odd starting point for assessing a novel, but in the case of thomas mallons finale, set during ronald reagans second term as president, it is a useful place to begin. 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.
San francisco chronicle, the daily beast, the miami herald, st. Thomas mallons latest political fiction may leave some of his sources. 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 apocalyptic days of negotiation with mikhail gorbachev. I read thomas mallons novel about reagans last years in the presidency shortly after reading h. 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 paperback august 9, 2016 by thomas mallon author visit amazons thomas mallon page. Much like his real persona, reagan is barely there in this novel. 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. Thomas mallon is too good a novelist and, one suspects, too proud merely to reheat the. A novel of the reagan years, john carter brown, director of the national gallery of art, and pamela harriman, the oftenmarried socialite. Finale, by thomas mallon 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.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The website maintained by novelist and critic thomas mallon. A novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon from amazons fiction books store. Mallons fictional treatment of president reagan supports the biographys contention that mr. Nov 12, 2015 near the end of a scene in thomas mallons finale. A novel of the reagan years hardcover skylight books.
Thomas mallon follows up his wonderful book on watergate to tackle the final years of the ronald reagan administration. Save reagan himself, all the characters in the novel. A novel of the reagan years kindle edition by mallon, thomas. Thomas mallon is too good a novelist and, one suspects, too proud merely to. Mallon extends his sharpeyed fictional exegesis of reallife american politics finale. The book is the fictionalized account of the tumultuous administration of the most consequential and enigmatic president of modern times.
A novel of the reagan years audiobook by thomas mallon. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Here, he skips over gerald fords elevationbyresignation and jimmy carters democratic interlude to examine two pivotal periods of the reagan administration. May 11, 2016 thomas mallon talked about his novel on president ronald reagan. 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. The questions, discussion topics, and reading list that follow are intended to enhance your reading groups discussion of finale. Thomas mallons latest historical novel and ninth book, finale. A novel of the reagan years thats packed with reallife barbs. Finale is the book that thomas mallon s work has been building toward for years. Before there was reagan the conservative icon, there was reagan the president. At the center of it allbut forever out of reachis ronald reagan himself, whose genial remoteness confounds his subordinates, his children, and the citizens who elected him. Reagan witheld or curtained off his essential self if. Readers of finale, thomas mallons sly and penetrating ninth novel, are well aware that the books protagonist, the nations 40th president, is destined to be revered as the republican.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read finale. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading finale. Finale a novel of the reagan years by thomas mallon. A novel of the reagan years, finale, thomas mallon, vintage. A novel of the reagan years thats packed with real. Such inscrutability seems doomed to frustrate a novelist trying write about the man. In watergate, you were comfortable leaping directly into richard nixons head.
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