Thirteen Albatrosses: (Or, Falling Off the Mountain)

By Donald Harington

Book Overview

The most rollicking and guiltlessly entertaining political novel in years For decades Donald Harington has delighted fans with his thrilling, magical tales of Stay More, a small enclave in northern Arkansas. Now Harington expands on his fictional realm with the strange, quixotic quest of Vernon Ingledew to win the governorship of Arkansas. Ingledew, a polymath of surreal properties, is soon hampered by what his opponents refer to as his "Thirteen Albatrosses." Among them: he is an atheist; lives in sin with his first cousin; and believes in "extirpating"-that is, getting rid of-hospitals, prisons, tobacco, and handguns. Nevertheless, Ingledew attracts to his campaign some of America's heaviest political hitters. Together they form Ingledew's Seven Samurai, aides whose devotion will be tested by kidnappings, adulterous love affairs, and defection to the rival campaign of the vulgar, hated Arkansas Governor Shoat Bradfield (a Republican). Providing readers with an education in the dizzying whirligig of contemporary politics, Thirteen Albatrosses is wickedly funny and presciently topical-entertainment of the highest order.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805068554
• ISBN13: 9780805068559
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 4.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Another winner

This book carries on the Harington Stay More saga and depicts one of the strangest elections ever held. Quite funny and satirical at the same time. I've read this one twice, and will probably pull it off the shelf again at some point.

Great election satire

There are two types of Harington stories that I love. One is the beautiful epic love story/family saga wrapped in his classic sad and humorous storytelling. The other is the falling-in-the-floor-laughing-until-your-husband-tells-you-to-shut-up-he's-trying-to-sleep-and-who-stays-up-until-3-am-laughing-at-a-novel-anyway type of story. I don't get why this novel was disappointing. I thought it was hilarious. Being from the Missouri Ozarks (us darn northerners), I found the political intrigue very real. I also found the idea of "hillbillies" trying to use modern political weapons and the moral implications of that very timely. I think of this novel and laugh and shake my head after almost every election cycle. This novel and Al Franken's "Why Not Me?" continue to be relevant and funny when it comes to modern American politics. Highly recommend you read this and laugh.

S**t Fire Good

This is a another great book in the Stay More saga. An author who has accomplished wonders in the the narrative form.I read TAOTAO in the Ozarks about 30 years ago and my reaction was the same when I read Confederacy of the Dunces while living in New Orleans. Mr. Harington is one of my favorite contemporary authors and the other one is John Berger.

Another great novel from AR and America's finest writer

A new novel from Donald Harington is always a cause for celebration. But 13 Albatrosses is even better than we deserve. Full of vivid characterizations and his trademark rollicking, ribald humor, this new novel should be necessary reading for anyone who can read. The best novel to come out of Arkansas in many years, 13 Albatrosses should win Donald Harington a legion of new fans. And be sure to check out his earlier work. You won't be disappointed.