Breakaway Books

Authored by Thomas Mallon; Published 2012; Historical Fiction

⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you are a little bit obsessed with the Watergate scandal, you are sure to enjoy the eponymous novel. Everyone else? Could go either way.

In Watergate, we see not the politics of the scandal, but the personalities, the motivations and the rivalries behind the events. If you are expecting to dive into a novel about late twentieth century politics, you may be disappointed. It’s about politicians, but it’s much more about them as men than as the political animals they are.

This novel dives into the most minute details of the folks behind the Watergate scandal. You may have read about it in your history textbook, but after reading this novel, you will feel like you actually know the players. I appreciated the way the author took pains to include the important women who surrounded Nixon, even those who seem to lack political power, in recognition of the sway they held over the president. Nixon himself comes out looking less villainous than history has classically portrayed him, at times seeming hapless and at others noble and resilient. That is not to say, of course, that there are not villains in this recounting of the scandal, but they may not be who you expect. For me, though, the highlight is Alice Roosevelt, who I first ran across in The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, and who is depicted as a mischievous sprite who somehow transcends party politics.

But, this book is long and detailed, and if you aren’t into American history, presidential scandals, and specifically Watergate, the blow-by-blow may bore you. There are a lot of different personalities to keep track of, and you are dropped in media res when the novel begins, so if you aren’t already somewhat familiar, it can be a tough introduction. The most well-known signposts of the scandal, like the break-in itself, the journalists’ pursuit of the story, and Nixon’s resignation, are referenced more obliquely than directly. When I picked up the novel, I looked forward to acts of blatant corruption and sneaky heists, but there really isn’t any of that, so adjust your expectations.

Watergate is for the true history buffs among us. If you count yourselves as one of them, you should try this one out.