Reviews

Scandalmonger by William Safire

snowbenton's review against another edition

5.0

A fascinating, shocking, delightful mostly-true tale of the years of the Adams and Jefferson presidencies. It follows the adulterous scandal that barred Hamilton from the presidency, the numerous sexual scandals that nearly cost Jefferson his re-election, the tensions with France and England, and how a saucy and fearless journalist named Callender brought it all about. Everyone who ever thought American history was boring should read this book, and everyone who ever thought American history was interesting should read it twice. The end notes are detailed and tell you a lot about what really happened and it’s fascinating that so much of the dialogue was taken from letters—it really gives you a feel for what the country was like at the time (and how little people have really changed).

Cannot recommend enough.

beyondsolitaire's review

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 This was an interesting read. The book is sometimes plodding, and sometimes reads like narrative nonfiction even though it is a novel. But I was interested the entire time, and Safire's sharp historical research allows him to capture both the events of his story and the way his characters must have felt about the events they lived through.

Scandalmonger is also interesting because of issues it brings up to a modern American. We prize our freedom of the press, but this novel really drives home how hard won that was, and how undemocratic early politicians in the United States truly were. Negative attitudes towards immigrants, partisan judges, and biased press outlets abound. We live in strange times, but this novel made them seem a little less so, which was both depressing and comforting. You will not read this book and come away with the idea that anyone in it is a hero. But you might gain a renewed appreciation for a free press.