Running head: A MAGNIFICENT CATASTROPHE 1
A Magnificent Catastrophe
Fahad Aljohani
California State University San Marcos A Magnificent Catastrophe
In one of his most concise and “compelling read” works, A Magnificent Catastrophe, Edward J. Larson provides us with a fresh access to reality by drawing an apt reference to history. The tone of the writer in the 335 pages of the book cannot be mistaken. The writer puts up a spirited effort to calm nerves and appeal to the intelligence of his readers on contemporary issues by illustrating that most of the problems and fears that confront the society today are indeed not new. The writer uses Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton and John Adams as his key characters in a rare artisanship …show more content…
Some sections of A Magnificent Catastrophe almost seem fictitious as the writer provides a contrasting physique of Adams and Jefferson as the writer sets the stage (albeit virtual) for a bruising battle, for that is what the political duel seems to be in the book. Adams is presented as a blunt, fat, short but hot-tempered individual, but his adversary, Jefferson, is a tall, Virginia aristocrat, unperturbed by the violent politics. In several instances in the book, Jefferson viciously attacks his political opponents, but the striking thing in all instances in which he does so is that it is an indirect attack, ostensibly to uphold his reserved personality. For many readers, Larson seems to be addressing the character of Jefferson in the 1800 election with the personality of contemporary Washington politicians. This is an artistic masterpiece only available to him. The writer proceeds to spice up the political rivalry with the policy preferences of the adversaries. At some point, he pits the two rival factions as microcosms teeming with proxies out to do the bidding for their surrogates in the disguise of regional powers. This is the reason he provides details of the effect that Adams and the Federalists were inclined towards France, while the …show more content…
Larson manages to illustrate the loaded messages in a gripping narrative complete with satire and foreshadowing. This book is a single piece in which the writer is as consummate as he possibly could be keeping the reader turning pages, indulged in a somewhat intimate relationship with the gods of literature. However, it is only when you get to the last page that you realize Larson does not actually provide the historical narrative and contrast that he promises at the beginning of the book. From whichever perspective, one cannot fail to see from where Larson stands, that, the problems of the past are the problems of today. Anybody with a thirst for a literary masterpiece that can stand the test of time will want to read this
A Magnificent Catastrophe
Fahad Aljohani
California State University San Marcos A Magnificent Catastrophe
In one of his most concise and “compelling read” works, A Magnificent Catastrophe, Edward J. Larson provides us with a fresh access to reality by drawing an apt reference to history. The tone of the writer in the 335 pages of the book cannot be mistaken. The writer puts up a spirited effort to calm nerves and appeal to the intelligence of his readers on contemporary issues by illustrating that most of the problems and fears that confront the society today are indeed not new. The writer uses Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton and John Adams as his key characters in a rare artisanship …show more content…
Some sections of A Magnificent Catastrophe almost seem fictitious as the writer provides a contrasting physique of Adams and Jefferson as the writer sets the stage (albeit virtual) for a bruising battle, for that is what the political duel seems to be in the book. Adams is presented as a blunt, fat, short but hot-tempered individual, but his adversary, Jefferson, is a tall, Virginia aristocrat, unperturbed by the violent politics. In several instances in the book, Jefferson viciously attacks his political opponents, but the striking thing in all instances in which he does so is that it is an indirect attack, ostensibly to uphold his reserved personality. For many readers, Larson seems to be addressing the character of Jefferson in the 1800 election with the personality of contemporary Washington politicians. This is an artistic masterpiece only available to him. The writer proceeds to spice up the political rivalry with the policy preferences of the adversaries. At some point, he pits the two rival factions as microcosms teeming with proxies out to do the bidding for their surrogates in the disguise of regional powers. This is the reason he provides details of the effect that Adams and the Federalists were inclined towards France, while the …show more content…
Larson manages to illustrate the loaded messages in a gripping narrative complete with satire and foreshadowing. This book is a single piece in which the writer is as consummate as he possibly could be keeping the reader turning pages, indulged in a somewhat intimate relationship with the gods of literature. However, it is only when you get to the last page that you realize Larson does not actually provide the historical narrative and contrast that he promises at the beginning of the book. From whichever perspective, one cannot fail to see from where Larson stands, that, the problems of the past are the problems of today. Anybody with a thirst for a literary masterpiece that can stand the test of time will want to read this