The Plot Against America

About “The Plot Against America”

The Plot Against America is a 2004 novel by Philip Roth that presents an alternative history in which Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 presidential election. The story follows the Roth family during Lindbergh’s presidency, as antisemitism rises and Jewish-American families face increasing persecution. The narrator is a young Philip Roth, and the novel explores his confusion and fear, blending themes of growing up with political and social change. Roth drew from Lindbergh’s real-life isolationist views and his own experiences in Newark, New Jersey. The novel is set in the Weequahic neighborhood, where Roth attended high school. It received critical acclaim for its portrayal of antisemitism and trauma. The book won the James Fenimore Cooper Prize in 2005 and was a finalist for several other awards.