Shelley's Heart »

Charles McCarry "remains the greatest espionage writer that America has produced," wrote Otto Penzler in the New York Sun. He established an international reputation with the publication of the worldwide bestseller The Tears of Autumn in 1975 and is the author of nine other novels.

The first presidential election of the twenty-first century, bitterly contested by two men who are implacable political rivals but lifelong personal friends, is stolen through computer fraud. On the eve of the Inauguration the losing candidate presents proof of the crime to his opponent, the incumbent President, and demands that he stand aside. The winner refuses and takes the oath of office, thereby setting in motion what may destroy him and his party, and even bring down the Constitution.

From this crisis, master storyteller Charles McCarry, author of such classic thrillers as The Tears of Autumn and The Last Supper weaves a masterpiece of political intrigue. Shelley's Heart is so gripping in its realism and so striking in its foresight that McCarry's devoted readers may view this tale of love, murder, betrayal, and life-or-death struggles for the political soul of America as an act of prophecy.

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The title, taken from the name of the Romantic poet, represents a code phrase used by a secret society that is at the center of this elaborate but tautly focused political thriller. Formed at Yale, the Shelleyans believe in a Fabian-like socialism, and having risen to influential government positions, they work to effect their ideals, ideals that archconservative Franklin Mallory threatens to thwart if he wins the 2000 presidential election. He doesn't, charges fraud, and escapes assassination. In the ensuing monumental constitutional crisis over the succession, McCarry throws in just about every character-type DC produces, except for a kitchen-sink plumber. Each one pops out three-dimensional: the homespun President Lockwood, who is the Shelleyans' hope; the alcoholic House leader; an ascetic Shelleyan as chief justice; furtive ex-spies skulking about; the journalist every power broker simply must see. Sophisticated in style, magnetic in attraction, McCarry's literary labyrinthine effort might create for him a reputation as the postcold war le Carre.