Primary Colors
Anonymous
366 pages
published in 1996

This is a political novel greatly inspired by Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign and rumoured to have been written by somebody closely involved with the campaign. I found it to be a compelling, interesting read. However, the last third or so of the book is considerably weaker then the first part because it abruptly changes course. It feels as if the writer, changed his mind in mid-novel about what sort of book this would be.

Henry Burton is the grandson of a famous '60ties civil rights activist, who has worked on the staff of one of the more important Democratic congressmen for six years, before fleeing Washington to Columbia University. And now Jack Stanton, obscure southern governor wants him to manage his campaign to become the Democratic presidental candidate and after that, his presidential election campaign. (In the US, every party first holds socalled primaries in which their registered voters can choose who becomes their presidental candidate. These are just as important, if not more so as the "real" presidental elections.)

The first part of the book revolves around Jack Stanton's campaign in New Hampshire, traditionally a very important state to win in the primaries. This is the most politics orientated part of the book and gives a realistic image of how a campaign works. Even if few details are given. This is also the part that most mirrors Bill clinton's campaign, including the sex scandals. Like Clinton, Stanton is a womaniser and gets into trouble for it.

The later part of the book is more about Henry's mounting doubts about the campaign, as well as the relationship he started with Daisy, another campaign employee. This disappointed me, as I'd rather read more about the campaign then about the not very novel troubles they go through. What also disappointed me was Henry's seemingly passive attitude throughout the novel: he always reacted instead of acted and he never came up with any idea on his own.

However, this doesn't mean this is a bad book, just not as good a book as it could've been. I do like the way the author portrays the campaign, how he manages to conmvey the whole adrenalin drenched atmosphere of it.