Scan barcode
A review by msand3
Democracy: An American Novel by Henry Adams
3.0
3.5 stars. It's easy to see why Henry Adams' novel caused a stir when published anonymously in 1880. It's also easy to understand why the novel remains relevant. Adams fires a shot across the bow of American exceptionalism, suggesting that Americans don't necessarily have any high moral ground just because the United States was the first modern democracy. Indeed, the populace (and those whom we elect) are just as dull, boorish, prejudiced, and unenlightened as anyone else in the world. Adams suggests that our nation's shaky moral compass is best reflected in our elected officials. He offers a portrait of a midwestern US Senator (the aptly named "Ratcliffe") who is proudly under-educated, openly corrupt, and hypocritically preachy. Ratcliffe places party ahead of the public good, rejects Darwin (and claims not to understand his theories, even while admitting he hasn't even read Darwin's work), laughs at the idea of reform, and openly lacks any guiding principles. Clearly, Adams could have been writing about any number of US Senators in 2016! This portrait of American politicians--blowhard men holding childish grudges and making pointless speeches simply to hear the sound of their own voices--remains remarkably accurate.
As a counterbalance to Sen. Ratciffe, Adams gives us a protagonist with whom readers can identify: a young widow named Madeleine Lee. In her desire as an idle rich woman to see the gears of democracy working up-close in Washington, DC, she offers a level-headed, informed, and wryly humorous commentary on the dunderheaded politicians who practically beg to take part in her social functions. Of course, women were nowhere to be found among elected officials at the time, so Adams seems to suggest that the women in the novel would be far better legislators than their husbands and friends, functioning as the moral marrow in a system that otherwise would be totally lacking in substance. Unfortunately, even with the inclusion of arbitrating women like Mrs. Lee, the political backbiting and discord still descends into virtual chaos. Mrs. Lee becomes disgusted with it all rather quickly after finding herself a pawn in the political machinations. Americans across the generations can empathize!
As a counterbalance to Sen. Ratciffe, Adams gives us a protagonist with whom readers can identify: a young widow named Madeleine Lee. In her desire as an idle rich woman to see the gears of democracy working up-close in Washington, DC, she offers a level-headed, informed, and wryly humorous commentary on the dunderheaded politicians who practically beg to take part in her social functions. Of course, women were nowhere to be found among elected officials at the time, so Adams seems to suggest that the women in the novel would be far better legislators than their husbands and friends, functioning as the moral marrow in a system that otherwise would be totally lacking in substance. Unfortunately, even with the inclusion of arbitrating women like Mrs. Lee, the political backbiting and discord still descends into virtual chaos. Mrs. Lee becomes disgusted with it all rather quickly after finding herself a pawn in the political machinations. Americans across the generations can empathize!