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“We’re living in a sensitive age, Cuke, and I’m not altogether sure you’re fully attuned to it.” So says Irish-American politician Frank Skeffington—a cynical, corrupt 1950s mayor, and also an old-school gentleman who looks after the constituents of his New England city and enjoys their unwavering loyalty in return. But in our age of dynasties, mercurial social sensitivities, and politicians making love to the camera, Skeffington might as well be talking to us.
Not quite a roman á clef of notorious Boston mayor James Michael Curley, The Last Hurrah tells the story of Skeffington’s final campaign as witnessed through the eyes of his nephew, who learns a great deal about politics as he follows his uncle to fundraisers, wakes, and into smoke-filled rooms, ultimately coming—almost against his will—to admire the man. Adapted into a 1958 film starring Spencer Tracy and directed by John Ford (and which Curley tried to keep from being made), Edwin O’Connor’s opus reveals politics as it really is, and big cities as they really were. An expansive, humorous novel offering deep insight into the Irish-American experience and the ever-changing nature of the political machine, The Last Hurrah reveals political truths still true today: what the cameras capture is just the smiling face of the sometimes sordid business of giving the people what they want.
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Previews available in: English
Subjects
Politics and government, Fiction, American fiction, Fiction, general, Boston (mass.), fiction, Politicians, fictionPeople
Frank SkeffingtonPlaces
Boston (Mass.)Times
1950's to around 1960Showing 7 featured editions. View all 7 editions?
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The Last Hurrah
July 2001, Amereon Limited, Brand: Amereon Limited, Amereon Ltd
Hardcover
in English
0848823737 9780848823733
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Book Details
First Sentence
"IT was early in August when Frank Skeffington decided - or rather, announced his decision, which actually had been arrived at some months before - to run for re-election as mayor of the city."
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- Created April 29, 2008
- 7 revisions
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April 8, 2023 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
April 29, 2011 | Edited by OCLC Bot | Added OCLC numbers. |
August 9, 2010 | Edited by IdentifierBot | added LibraryThing ID |
April 24, 2010 | Edited by Open Library Bot | Fixed duplicate goodreads IDs. |
April 29, 2008 | Created by an anonymous user | Imported from amazon.com record. |