Hank, Buzz, and Willie: Fictional Precursors of the Boss-Leader in American Politics

• In Event: Presidents, Leadership, and Populism

Brief Overview

By describing in detail what American-style authoritarianism might plausibly look like, three novelists (Mark Twain, Sinclair Lewis, Robert Penn Warren) provide a nuanced account of America’s vulnerability to radical populist leaders.

Author

• Joel Andrew Johnson, Augustana University