1876

Set during the turbulent aftermath of the Civil War, this novel unfolds against the contested presidential election of 1876, when Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden vied for the White House. Through the eyes of Charles Schuyler, a cosmopolitan observer returning to the United States, the story explores the corruption, ambition, and backroom maneuvering that shaped the Gilded Age. Political intrigue, media influence, and the fragile state of American democracy take center stage. Written by Gore Vidal, renowned for his incisive historical fiction and sharp political insight, this is a vivid, provocative portrait of a nation wrestling with power and principle—sure to engage readers interested in American history and the enduring complexities of politics.