Primary Colors

Primary Colors is truly "A Novel of Politics." The novel is a roman à clef, a work of fiction "that purports to describe real life characters and events." The book is a version of Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign in 1992. It has been compared to the other definitive novel about American politics; Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men (which I read earlier this year and absolutely adored). I began reading the novel with the thought that it would take me a while to finish; it was just over 500 pages and all about politics. But to my astonishment, I was drawn into the story from the first page, and I could barely put it down. The book is narrated by Henry Burton, who describes the primary campaign with southern governor Jack Stanton. As the back of the book says,

Primary Colors puts you inside the hotel rooms, the bedrooms, the cell-phone conversations, the power plays, the media frenzy. And leaves you wondering: Is this man just an insatiable political animal? Or is he America's last best hope?

The novel itself is an American classic. It is more current than Penn Warren's All the King's Men because it focuses in part on the 24/7 news cycle that is such a part of politics today. It is also a true testament to the behind the scenes work that goes on constantly during political campaigns for office. Behind every politician is a large team that the public barely knows about. If you haven't had the chance to read this novel yet, I highly recommend it. Rating: ★★★★★