Fluke [Hardcover]

Martin Blinder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999

So begins the tale of one of the most tragic figures in modern American history, as seen through the rather astigmatic vision of his mistress. In America, anybody can become president. In 1920, anybody did. Harding was a strikingly handsome man, a high school graduate of impenetrable ignorance whose only two qualifications for the presidency were that he looked and sounded presidential provided you didn't look or listen too closely. Ohio's "favorite son" at the nominating convention, he recognized his deficiencies, did not want such high office, and never expected to be nominated, no less elected. But his destiny was to become the first packaged candidate, elected largely on the strength of a carefully crafted image. Thus began 12 years of Republican rule that fostered unbridled capitalism and willful isolation, leading to the Great Depression and the rise of European dictatorships, which set the stage for World War II. Greatly complicating things was the relationship between Harding and Nan, who shared a deeper intimacy and hotter sex than anything enjoyed by more contemporary White House occupants. But woven around and through their furtive couplings is the tapestry of corruption and scandal generated by a half-dozen uniquely odious presidential cronies.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With almost eerie timeliness, debut novelist Blinder skillfully recreates the long-running romance of President Warren G. Harding with a woman half his age, simultaneously depicting an era that became notorious for financial chicanery at high levels of government. In the eyes of narrator Nan Britton, who bore Harding's illegitimate child, Harding was a great man brought down by his enemies and his need to be liked. When teenage Nan first encounters Harding, he is a modest Ohio publisher propelled to office by his flinty, ambitious wife, "the Duchess," and political associates who appreciate his malleability. After a reluctant Harding is elected to the Senate, Nan follows the easygoing Republican to Washington, where he can't resist her nubile charms. A series of wily maneuvers (of which he is unaware) propel Harding to the top of the 1920 Republican ticket and thence to the White House. From that point, the narrative bristles with suspense as a modest man grows into his potential as a statesman. Meanwhile, his trusted cronies indulge in a rampage of ruthless greed, culminating in the Teapot Dome scandal. Harding's sudden death, just after the scandals come to light but before he can declare his innocence, freezes history's judgment, making the man synonymous with the sins of his subordinates. Writing with economy and insight, Blinder is at his best in short, vividly cinematic takes as when, after the inauguration, a tactful Harding rides with his predecessor, a disillusioned and disapproving Woodrow Wilson. Although Blinder fails to convey the electricity of passion between Nan and Harding, he does do well in depicting how a woman obsessed by passion behaves. This is a book of considerable dash and charm, richly nuanced with character and shaded with political realities. Agent, Barbara Braun. (Jan.) and has written nonfiction (Lovers; Husbands and Wives) and screenplays.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Decades before the Bill and Monica scandal rocked Washington, D.C., Warren and Nan conducted an even steamier affair in the White House. Blinder exploits the obvious parallels between the personalities, the administrations, and the peccadilloes of William Jefferson Clinton and Warren Gamaliel Harding to fashion this keen political expose, satirizing the rampant lust, greed, and cronyism that has always plagued the nation's capital. Nan Britton, Harding's blindly devoted mistress, narrates this tale of the rise and fall of arguably the most skillfully packaged and woefully unqualified candidate to ever be elected president of the U.S. Although Harding's illicit relationship with a much younger woman is virtually ignored by the press and his political enemies, the revelation that some of his closest friends, advisors, and staff members helped orchestrate the Teapot Dome scandal dooms his flagging presidency. Although Harding vainly attempts to resurrect his public image, his reputation and his health are permanently damaged. A timely and surprisingly sympathetic fictional portrait of the man generally acknowledged to be one of our worst presidents. Margaret Flanagan

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 213 pages
• Publisher: Permanent Pr Pub Co (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579620175
• ISBN-13: 978-1579620172
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,094,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book - bad choice of title, January 17, 1999

By 

Cecelia E Connally (Cleveland, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fluke (Hardcover)

In addiiton to being a lawyer and a judge for the past 19 years, I am also a history buff. Two years ago I received a masters in history and am currently working on a PHD in American. As an Ohio resident I have always had an interest in our Ohio Presidents, writing my masters thesis on the funeral of Ohio's James A. Garfield. I've also done some reading on Warren Harding and took the time last summer to visit his home in Marion, Ohio. So it was with great interest that I discovered FLUKE on the shelf of my local library. In light of the Clinton situation, the story of Harding and Nan Britton becomes even more interesting. All in all I found FLUKE very readable. It took a couple of pages to get used to the technique used the author of mixing the first person of a character into the narataive, but all in all I thought it worked very well. There are several books out on Harding, in light of the release of some of his papers several years ago that dispute various points made by the author. Of course the family claims that Harding had the mumps as a child and could not get anyne pregnant. There seems to be some validity to the argument that Harding was fairly well known and could not have been seen in public as much as Nan Bitton contends, but in all the author does a great job and tells a very interesting story. I tend to believe it but this is a novel. It was not written as the gospel. I would recommend this book highly. It's a quick read and well done. For what ever reason, the author left out Florence's son who lived with the Hardings and proved to be a disappointment but other than that its fairly close to the fact. It's most enjoyable!!! I just can't figure out why he picked the name FLUKE. In my opinion it distracts from the novel. The author should sell the movie rithts. It would be great on screen - but under a different tittle.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History Plus, February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fluke (Hardcover)

Martin Blinder's detailed accounts of the political history of President Warren G. Harding's administration are remarkable. Even more remarkable is his psychological insight into an historical woman's obsessive passion. Blinder goes beyond documentary evidence, using sensitivity to human passion to combine fact and fantasy. With vivid imagination and psychological genius, he creates Harding's mistress, Nan Britton, with a contemporary woman's growth potential. It is inspiring indeed to watch Blinder's Nan grow in her ability to be a self-affirming and autonomous individual. If you are a student of history, this is the book for you; and likewise if you are a student of obsessive love.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Will history repeat itself?, February 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fluke (Hardcover)

This book is well-written with an interesting perspective. It took me a few chapters to adapt to the story-telling "slant", but then the story became totally engrossing.

In light of the present-day presidential scandals, one can only wonder how history will treat our current president in years to come. This book gives the reader a great deal of food for thought, a desire to further explore history, and an enjoyable and interesting read - all in one neat package. I look forward to Mr. Blinder's next book.