The Shad Treatment

By Garrett Epps

Book Overview

An All the King's Men for Virginia, The Shad Treatment vividly chronicles politics in the Old Dominion during the Byrd regime's decline in the 1970s. Thomas Jefferson "Tom Jeff" Shadwell is leading a "people's crusade" to liberate the Governor's Mansion from the grip of the conservative political machine that has controlled the state for fifty years. Against him are ranged the powerful forces that have kept the state back for so long--unreconstructed race-baiting politicians, gentleman farmers, giant corporations, and the "best families." The campaign promises to be the toughest, dirtiest, and most brutal in decades. But for Mac Evans, key aide in the Shadwell campaign, the election offers one last chance for his family to gain vindication and respect after years or defeat and ridicule. Inspired by events and personalities from the heated 1973 gubernatorial election.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 081391776X
• ISBN13: 9780813917764
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: University of Virginia Press
• Length: 444 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.9" x 8.9"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Virginia politics...Epps gets it.

This book is a semi-fictional account of a race for Governor of Virginia. An earlier reviewer critized Epps'for borrowing his characters. Epps did borrow his characters -- not from another author -- but from real life. Epps account is excellent, enthralling, and a must read for every Virginian.

Marvelous

If you're interested in politics, family relations, recent history, southern culture or Virginia, this is a book you should read. The thinly-fictionalized story of gubernatorial race, The Shad Treatment is a latter-day All the King's Men.

Fantastic molding of Fact and Fiction creates great book

This is a long time personal favorite, using a fictional gubernatiorial race in Virginia to explore attitudes and events in the Old Dominion. Those familar with Virginia politics will easily identify the fictional character with his or her real life inspiration. Mr. Epps has created a fine book for any reader. However, his descriptions of the people and geography of the Commonwealth, combined with the tapestry Mr. Epps has created by reweaving true events makes for a unique reading experience for anyone with an interest in Virginia history and pollitics

A wonderful story about Virginia

If you are interested in politics and in an engrossing story about Virginia politics, this is a book for you. The writing is incisive and perceptivee story moves along quickly.