An immediate bestseller upon its publication in 1880, the anonymously penned Democracy prompted widespread speculation and guessing games as to its author’s identity. It is the story of Mrs. Lightfoot Lee, a society widow, and Silas Ratcliffe, the most influential member of the Senate, who, throughout the novel, pursues Mrs. Lee while at the same time battling her for power. Set in Washington in the 1870s, Democracy presents a scathing and incisive look at the intricate inner workings of politics and corruption that remains relevant today.
This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the 1880 first edition and includes a contemporary review from The Atlantic Monthly.
About the Author
Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., is a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and biographer. His many books include A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House and, most recently, A Life in the 20th Century. He lives in New York City.
Praise For…
“[One] of the most perceptive books ever written about Washington.” —Maureen Dowd, The New York Times
