A Magnificent Catastrophe

“In this absorbing, brisk account, Larson re-creates the dramatic presidential race of 1800…an invaluable study of a crucial chapter in the lives of the founding fathers – and of the nation.” – Publishers Weekly“Pulitzer Prize-winner Larson vividly recounts America’s first overtly partisan election.The colorful cast of Founders included Madison, Jay, Pinckney, Monroe and Samuel Adams; the behind-the-scenes machinations of High Federalist leader Alexander Hamilton and Republican organizer Aaron Burr were especially dramatic. Larson does justice to them all and demonstrates his storytelling mastery….[A] smartly conceived, beautifully wrought campaign history, bound to entertain and inform.” – Kirkus Reviews “A splendid new book.” – George Will, Washington Post“Larson…both deifies and debunks the founders in A Magnificent Catastrophe…His dramatic tale offers fascinating modern parallels.” – Gil Troy, New York Times Book Review“Edward Larson…captures the drama – and complexity – of this pivotal event in American history….He is scrupulously fair and balanced.” – Glenn C. Altschuler, Philadelphia Inquirer“Larson… provides one of the finest insights ever written into the history of the founding – and sometimes faltering – first steps of our modern democratic republic.” – Thom Hartmann, BuzzFlash.com (Book of the Month Review)“Smartly conceived, beautifully wrought campaign history, bound to entertain and inform.” – Kirkus Reviews (Starred review)“Through Larson’s story, the reader can see the two-party system forming itself.” – Bruce Ramsey, Seattle Times“The best book I’ve seen so far to prompt reflection on what we’re doing as we prepare to elect a new president.” – John Wilson, Books and Culture

Edward J. Larson is the author of seven books and the recipient of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in History for his book Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion. His other books include Evolution: The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory; Evolution’s Workshop; God and Science on the Galapagos Islands; and Trial and Error: The American Controversy Over Creation and Evolution. Larson has also written over one hundred articles, most of which address topics of law, science, or politics from an historical perspective, which have appeared in such varied journals as The Atlantic, Nature, Scientific American, The Nation, The Wilson Quarterly, and Virginia Law Review. He is a professor of history and law at Pepperdine University and lives in Georgia and California.

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