History Corner/ Book Review: The Last American President by Richard Engle

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Smith Publicity, via Netgalley, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it


The Last American President cover


Synopsis:

A story of political intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of the dissolution of the United States of America. Alan Cassell, a wrong side of the tracks boy from a broken home in Pittsburg, Kansas, and the beautiful Kate Fogarty who was from a wealthy family in Wichita were an unlikely couple. They were even less likely to rise to the top of American politics. Politically connected persons, first local, then national, used his drive and talent to garner wins at the ballot box. However, as they rise politically they grow apart personally. Fortuitous events, some humorous, some romantic, others tragic, and still others manipulated at the highest levels of international intrigue were foundational to his rise to power. At a pivotal moment when Alan feels like everyone else had betrayed him, he discovers that even Kate had been unfaithful to him. This destroys Alan politically and contributes to the destruction of the United State of America. 

Told from the perspective of friend and informal advisor, Archer Adams, The Last American President is a story that puts the emphasis on the human joys and sorrows, trials and triumphs, faith and betrayals of the last American President. It is a human drama, in a political setting, with bipartisan appeal. The Last American President is a character driven story which all Americans will find to be a cautionary tale. Nonetheless, it presents a hopeful view of American life and what it means to be an American.


Excerpt:

You can read one of the chapters on the book's website.


Review:

This book takes the last 50 years of American political history, plus a worse case scenario and adds a tale of romance, to come up with a novel that reads like it could be ripped from today's headlines. I found myself putting it down and picking it back up a few days later. It's not that it isn't a quick read, but that the flow is a bit off, and I found taking 3-4 chapters at a time kept my interest in the book better. The premise is sound, but it is fiction and some facts have been changed to 'round out the story' better. If you are intrigued with history repeating itself, then this is the book for you.


About the Author:


Richard Engle is a Past President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies which is the nation's largest and oldest Republican support organization. Richard was twice elected to his local city council and twice elected to the Oklahoma delegation to the Republican National Convention including serving on the National Rules Committee in 2000 where he successfully placed a minority report on the floor of the convention - the first, and most recent since Ronald Reagan did the same in 1976. Richard is President of BellWest America. Richard and Denise, his wife of nearly 30 years, live in Oklahoma City. Denise Engle serves as Workers' Compensation Commissioner for the State of Oklahoma. Richard speaks and writes often on matters of public policy.

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