1876: A Novel

Narratives of Empire, Book 3

By: Gore Vidal

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 16 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

The third volume of Gore Vidal's magnificent series of historical novels aimed at demythologizing the American past, 1876 chronicles the political scandals and dark intrigues that rocked the United States in its centennial year.

Charles Schermerhorn Schuyler, Aaron Burr's unacknowledged son, returns to a flamboyant America after his long, self-imposed European exile. The narrator of Burr has come home to recoup a lost fortune by arranging a suitable marriage for his beautiful daughter, the widowed Princess d'Agrigente, and by ingratiating himself with Samuel Tilden, the favored presidential candidate in the centennial year. With these ambitions and with their own abundant charms, Schuyler and his daughter soon find themselves at the centers of American social and political power at a time when the fading ideals of the young republic were being replaced by the excitement of empire.

"A glorious piece of writing," said Jimmy Breslin in Harper's. "Vidal can take history and make it powerful and astonishing." Time concurred: "Vidal has no peers at breathing movement and laughter into the historical past."

©1976 Gore Vidal (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

I'm devoted to this series

Gore Vidal's Narratives of Empire are highly readable political and social histories of the United States. Witty, ironic, pragmatic tales that strip away the myths and help us better understand what we've always been about.

I have never hated such well written characters

The main character and his psycho daughter are both unsufferable hypocritical assholes. Good writing though.

Disappointing

I loved Burr and Lincoln but this book was a real disappointment. Until the last two hours of the 16 hour book nothing much of interest really happens except endless dinners and judgmental conversations and observations. I was ready for the book to end when it finally got interesting. I really liked the fictional character Charlie in Burr but not as much in this book and really disliked his fictional princess daughter.

Weak as a stand alone, but worthwhile.

This book is the third in the Narratives of Empire series. I’m enjoying the series, but this book doesn’t do well as a stand-alone.

On the other hand, it’s a story of political corruption at the highest level, very reminiscent of today. It’s striking to listen to the parallels between the news of today and from 1876.

As always, Vidal’s writing is pleasing to follow. The performer did a wonderful job, particularly with all the accents. He played his part well.

Gore and Grover Deliver

Gore Vidal's slightly arch characters and observations make history as varied and amusing as I hope it was. Hearing of all the machinations behind the stolen election of 1876, makes the elections of 2016 and 2020 seem part of the American way of democracy. Grover Gardner delivers another wonderful performance, creating specific and effective characters for all the guys in those smoke filled rooms.... and a few ladies too. I highly highly recommend this as well as Burr and Lincoln. Looking forward to Empire, Hollywood, and the Golden Age.

Good, and "ton" Aplenty

I love the writing style and that it highlighted the presidential scandal of 1876. Republicans are not new to fixing elections and Florida has always been a problem with their returns. Still the story rambles and sometimes gets lost in unnecessary detail whilst trying to create universe.

Not great yet very very good

Anything Gore Vidal is truly worth the time . I love his take on historical facts with fictional characters it’s more immersive for me

Perhaps not as stellar as Burr but still worth your time

Burr was snarky and fun, made more enjoyable by the fact that it stands as a stunning counterpart to Hamilton. I often thought while reading it that it would make a wonderful play.

1876 covers,for me and I would say for most readers, the lesser known events of that centennial year, including the hotly contested election (the winner of the popular vote doesn’t win the Electoral College and so the election becomes contentious and dependent on — what?! — Florida?!). So while I didn’t catch all the nuances and subtle attacks on various historic persons, it was still a wonderful way to spend several hours

Written in 1975 about 1876 it’s prescient

1975 was post Watergate, a time of corruption.. The election of 1876 was an election of corruption. Gore Vidal brilliantly and entertainingly lays out a template of political corruption at the highest levels which in one form or another (Super Pacs, dark money, etc.) continues to exist today.

Mr.Vidal is an exceptional historical fiction novelists. His created characters blend in seamlessly with historical figures. His writing style is imbued with sarcasm and irony which makes potentially dry events alive, enlightening, and entertaining.

The narrator seemed to capture the writer’s voice accurately and made the many hours of listening enjoyable.

Just Okay

Having listened to and loved "Burr", I went ahead and purchased the rest of the series. Unfortunately, this volume lacks the irreverent wit that I so loved in Burr. This installment is just "okay" in my opinion. Serviceable, but not stellar. The details about the election count and recount gets mind numbingly tedious toward the end of the book.