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Rating: 
Summary: My favorite of the American Chronicle
Review: Apparently others disagree, but I thought this was the best novel in Vidal's American Chronicle series. It's also the best one to start with if you haven't read any others in the series, although it's near the end chronologically. I feel that it provides a good background for the other books, making it easier to understand and get into them.
Washington, DC will also stand alone as a great political novel. I'm not generally a fan of historical fiction, but I love Vidal, and this book is one of his best.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite of the American Chronicle
Review: Apparently others disagree, but I thought this was the best novel in Vidal's American Chronicle series. It's also the best one to start with if you haven't read any others in the series, although it's near the end chronologically. I feel that it provides a good background for the other books, making it easier to understand and get into them.
Washington, DC will also stand alone as a great political novel. I'm not generally a fan of historical fiction, but I love Vidal, and this book is one of his best.
Rating: 
Summary: Weakest of the series...
Review: but very very fun nonetheless. Vidal takes us into the mediacracy age of politics, that transition point when TV personality was beginning to trump backroom dealing as the principal factor in national politics. Clay, the protagonist, is so Kenndyesque that it is painful to behold. The backdrop of eroticism in politics is also wonderfully portrayed, as are other human qualities and frailties. For example, when he writes of a Senator consulting a fortuneteller, you can almost forgive a certain first lady for consulting an astrologer: it is scary to make decisions. This is interesting as Vidal hadn't quite gotten the tone of his American series yet, but clearly it was gestating in him. He is one of the best American writers of this century, underrated in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: History, Politics, and Literature at Their Finest
Review: Gore Vidal is one of America's most erudite and imaginative historical and political thinkers. He also happens to be one the most intelligent, witty, and capable literary craftsmen this country has ever produced. In Washington, D. C., Vidal has created a novel that is simultaneously informative and entertaining. The story takes place between the 1930s (FDR era) and WWII. For anyone interested in that historical period, this book will be a fascinating read. The amazing thing is, however, that even if you're not interested in that historical period, you'll enjoy the satirical nuances of the book. Also, Vidal draws his characters with such authenticity that you'll get lost in the interpersonal relationships and forget the historical backdrop. A vague outline of the novel is as follows: Senator Day twarts FDR's attempt to pack the Supreme Court; he then gets involved in an attempt to be elected president; while all this is happening his daughter's ex-fiance Clay Overbury (who is also Senator Day's aide) marries another woman whose father is extremely rich; and the political intrigue and madness ensue. This, and all of Vidal's American Chronicle series, should be required reading for every American citizen.
Rating:
Summary: History, Politics, and Literature at Their Finest
Review: Gore Vidal is one of America's most erudite and imaginative historical and political thinkers. He also happens to be one the most intelligent, witty, and capable literary craftsmen this country has ever produced. In Washington, D. C., Vidal has created a novel that is simultaneously informative and entertaining. The story takes place between the 1930s (FDR era) and WWII. For anyone interested in that historical period, this book will be a fascinating read. The amazing thing is, however, that even if you're not interested in that historical period, you'll enjoy the satirical nuances of the book. Also, Vidal draws his characters with such authenticity that you'll get lost in the interpersonal relationships and forget the historical backdrop. A vague outline of the novel is as follows: Senator Day twarts FDR's attempt to pack the Supreme Court; he then gets involved in an attempt to be elected president; while all this is happening his daughter's ex-fiance Clay Overbury (who is also Senator Day's aide) marries another woman whose father is extremely rich; and the political intrigue and madness ensue. This, and all of Vidal's American Chronicle series, should be required reading for every American citizen.
Rating:
Summary: Not the style of Burr or Lincoln, but superb nonetheless.
Review: I read Gore Vidal's Lincoln prior to reading this one. While I found the former enthralling and a towering accomplishment, Vidal's Washington DC is mediocre at best. Some of the techniques that Vidal came to perfect in Lincoln can be seen here - but the book is loosely written and gives frustratingly small glimpses of President Roosevelt; but not enough to give the novel real weight. In Lincoln, the author unerringly zeroes in on Lincoln and the context of the times and all the other characters are presented in detail and in contrast. Here, the Democratic Senator Day and his protege, a Kennedyesque, Clay Overbrook are presented as the protagonists and Roosevelt is kept in the background. This angle does not work and too much time is spent on sexual shennanigans and other sundry episodes to give the book any genuine thrust (so-to-speak). Neverthless, Gore Vidal has an excellent writing style, and the book ends up being readable - I finished it two sittings.
Rating: 
Summary: Disjointed
Review: The books that comprise the "Narratives of Empire" series were not written in order, and if you're reading them in order the cracks show up here in the sixth and final volume. In each volume, Vidal includes a preface telling you the story of the book you're about to read, and proudly reminding you that the entire series is the chronicle of a single family, direct in descent from Aaron Burr to himself. Yet when we get to "Washington DC" we learn that it was Blaise Sanford who purchased the Washington Tribune all those years ago and launched his publishing career, not his half-sister Caroline. In fact, Caroline Sanford has utterly ceased to exist, despite having been our main character during the previous two novels, during which she, yes, purchased the Washington Tribune and launched HER publishing career, only allowing Blaise to buy a 48% share years later when he was desperate. What's more, it was Caroline's mother who was descended from Burr, not Blaise's, as readers of volume three know perfectly well, which means that there are no more descendants of Burr left by volume six. Hmph.
Rating:
Summary: Disjointed
Review: The books that comprise the "Narratives of Empire" series were not written in order, and if you're reading them in order the cracks show up here in the sixth and final volume. In each volume, Vidal includes a preface telling you the story of the book you're about to read, and proudly reminding you that the entire series is the chronicle of a single family, direct in descent from Aaron Burr to himself. Yet when we get to "Washington DC" we learn that it was Blaise Sanford who purchased the Washington Tribune all those years ago and launched his publishing career, not his half-sister Caroline. In fact, Caroline Sanford has utterly ceased to exist, despite having been our main character during the previous two novels, during which she, yes, purchased the Washington Tribune and launched HER publishing career, only allowing Blaise to buy a 48% share years later when he was desperate. What's more, it was Caroline's mother who was descended from Burr, not Blaise's, as readers of volume three know perfectly well, which means that there are no more descendants of Burr left by volume six. Hmph.
Rating: 
Summary: DC Never Changes
Review: This book kept my interest from start to finish. It is written on an adult level, reminiscent of an era when DC was still mysterious.
I'm a resident of DC, and this book reminds me of the Jimmy Stewart movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" not for the story line, but because even though this story was set decades ago, written decades ago, it could have been written today. DC absolutely never changes.
Read this book for a higher-level "West Wing" from the congressional side. Drugs, sex, affairs, power -- its all in there.
I recommend this book on the inside of DC -- and it is enjoyable for all -- Democrats and Republicans aren't mentioned, so it doesn't matter your party!
Enjoy.
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