The book contains all the requisite parts of a campaign 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. Primary colors was rumored to be an uncannily accurate roman a clef of the behindthescenes goingson during the difficult. Primary colors is simply too good a novel for its author to squander a career in politics or. Jan 05, 2011 my name is joe klein and i wrote primary colors. His weekly time column, in the arena, covers us politics, elections, and foreign policy and has won two national headliner awards for best magazine column. Primary colors sensationalized presidential politics in a way that no book. 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. 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 1996, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Spending nearly a year on the new york times bestseller list, this blockbuster novel has sold well over one million copies. A novel of politics is a 1996 book by columnist joe kleinpublished anonymouslyabout the presidential campaign of a southern governor. Machiavellian campaign staffers, aggressive journalists, a tawdry affair between a reporter and her source on the presidents. The story is narrated from the first person point of view by henry burton, a bright, youngish black man who rises quickly to a key position on the governors presidential primary campaign staff.
Well, all right, but its not difficult to make out the parallels between. Kleins debut novel, a thinlyveiled portrait of the 1992 democratic presidential primaries, is a biting satire of. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Primary colors of american politics american literary. At the time of its release, the book apparently mattered less to many than the real name we use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Although it is advertised as a novel, it tells the story of the 1992 democratic. Primary colors author joe klein on anonymous oped joe klein, who published the novel primary colors anonymously in 1996, discusses the anonymous author of. A novel of politics is a 1996 book by columnist joe klein published anonymouslyabout the presidential campaign of a southern governor. A look back at primary colors, which changed the way we. A novel of politics ebook written by anonymous, joe klein. The main characters of this fiction, politics story are. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read primary colors.
Primary colors would seem just about as good, as tough and as smart, if there had never been a president named bill clinton. A brilliant and penetrating look behind the scenes of modern american politics, primary colors is a funny, wise, and dramatic story with characters and. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. 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. Aug 30, 2016 a look back at primary colors, which changed the way we talk and joke about politics with the clintons at the center of another presidential campaign, the 1996 book and 1998 film adaptation.
I think the movie of primary colors vastly improved on the book. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. A novel of politics by joe klein, anonymous, professor james jennings online at alibris. A novel of politics and millions of other books are available for instant access. A novel of politics 1st edition1st printing anonymous, joe klein a handsome first editionfirst printing near fine condition in near fine dustjacket. Appropriately, the washington post wound up outing newsweek columnist joe klein following kleins blanket denials, to his comrades in print, that he was the author. Its a superb filmfunny, insightful and very wise about the realities of political life. The best political novels in american history offer sweeping and sometimes dystopian views of government and the people who run it. Primary colors joe klein full name joseph klein american journalist, biographer, nonfiction writer, and novelist. So much about primary colors 1996 has so little to do with the novel. When a former congressional aide becomes part of the staff of the governor of a small. When it was first published, the anonymouslyauthored primary colorsan 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 talk and joke about politics with the clintons at the center of another presidential campaign, the. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Primary colors novel of politics hardcover book 1996 ebay. Best childrens books about colors score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Fictional characters and believed reallife inspirations edit jack stanton, southern governor bill clinton 1 susan stanton, his wife hillary clinton 1 henry burton, campaign manager george stephanopoulos 1 richard jemmons, campaign strategist james carville 11 daisy green. 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. It is a roman a clef a work of fiction based on real people and events about bill clintons first presidential campaign in 1992. He had dismissed a suggestion by mr clinton himself that he was behind the book and rejected a. Little wonder, since director mike nichols and screenwriter elaine may are known as clinton supporters. The handshake is the threshold act, the beginning of politics, says henry burton. A novel of politics 1st edition1st printing primary colors. Last week, i read primary colors and watched the 1998 movie based on the novel to. Political novels list of the best political fiction.
Primary colors was written by joe klein, a reporter that was following the 1992 clinton campaign. Primary colors an anonymous novel on politics this is the story of a governor of a state no one has heard of, jack stanton, in his pursuit for the presidency of the united states. Still, for an unbridled take on the political scene, its nearimpossible to top the original source material, primary colors. This book was written by an artful thief, someone who knew just how much he could. 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. 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. What, you were expecting travolta to do the honors. Narrated by a halfblack campaign staffer, the novel follows the governorably assisted by his dynamic wife, a. 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. Primary colors is a fictionalized account of bill clintons quest for the presidency, written by an unknown author, his pen dipped in acid. With characters based on clintons inner circle, the book is a behindthescenes look at what happens during a political campaign.
A former congressional aide of mixed race, henry burton takes a new job with jack stanton, governor of a small southern state who has his eye on the presidency, observing his campaign, his idiosyncratic lifestyle, and the controversies and scandals surrounding him. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A novel of politics by anonymous from amazons fiction books store. But it certainly takes its place among the better political novels ever written.
Oct 23, 2019 some of the best political writing cant be found in newspapers or magazines or any nonfiction in general. The electoral campaign of a southern governor for the presidency of the united states. Mar 21, 20 primary colors is a classic roman a clef a novel with a key, and in this case, the key to understanding it is knowing its connection to the 1992 u. Jack stanton is a charismatic governor of a southern state, a new kind of democrat who blends populist politics with ivy league credentials. And presumably klein would be able to contrast, most likely negatively, what politics is like in the 2010s as opposed to what it was like in the early 1990s. The most talkedabout political mystery of 1996 involving. Buy a cheap copy of primary colors book by anonymous. When a former congressional aide becomes part of the staff of the governor of a small southern state, he watches in horror. 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. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 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.
Who are each of the characters in the movie primary colors. Primary colors by anonymous joe klein 366 pages, 1996, random house. 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. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 384 pages and is available in paperback format. Before the book was even released, the hype was gaining momentum. The famous or infamous roman a clef about the 1992 clinton presidential campaign. Jan 24, 2011 the book contains all the requisite parts of a campaign novel. The book is obviously based on the clinton campaign in 1992 and it has the feel of an inside job. 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. A novel of politics 1st edition1st printing add to basket. Primary colors changed the way we talk and joke about politics.
Primary colors by anonymous and joe klein penguin random. May 29, 20 the novel of primary colors begins with a disclaimer. A brilliant and penetrating look behind the scenes of modern americ. The first edition of the novel was published in january 16th 1996, and was written by anonymous. This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear. Primary colors a novel of politics by anonymous hardcover book. 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. The following entry presents criticism on kleins novel primary colors 1996. Furthermore, wouldnt a primary colors ii be a fascinating movie. A look back at primary colors, which changed the way we talk. Seven months after the books release, klein held a press. Thus, the latest chapter in the primary colors saga concerns the books softening, so as not to offend the first couple. 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. Personal curiosity is just one reason why i so badly want anonymous to turn himself or herself in.
Est 2050 gmt cnn it hit book store shelves with a thud heard all over capitol hill. He had dismissed a suggestion by mr clinton himself. Jack stanton is a charismatic governor of a southern state, a new kind of democrat who. 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. I recall that the movie sticks quite closely to the plot outlined in.
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