PHILIP ROTH — THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA

Image: Lindbergh speaking in Des Moines

The Plot Against America is a novel of alternative history: Charles Lindbergh as WWII-era president, American Jews persecuted. I heard a bit of narrative throat-clearing in the first 50 pages, but after that the story can’t be stopped. I especially appreciated how Mr. Roth portrayed the vertiginous erosion of personal freedoms that comprises the final third of the story. “How could this have happened?” is a common question to ask of historical atrocities. The Plot Against America provides plausible answers. This is no small feat, given that characters we care about must share the page with a high volume of political detail. Mr. Roth sticks the landing. Read, May 2020.