Prequel
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  • Published: 27 May 2025
  • ISBN: 9781804996126
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 416
  • RRP: $24.99
Categories:

Prequel

An American fight against fascism

Formats & editions
Paperback
27 May 2025
Tr. Paperback
3 Sep 2024
EBook
11 Jul 2024
Audiobook
11 Jul 2024
Paperback
19 Dec 2023
Hardback
3 Oct 2024
Hardback
5 Dec 2023
Audio CD
19 Dec 2023
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Journalist Rachel Maddow's runaway #1 bestseller, with over 400,000 copies sold. This is the startling story of America's homegrown fascist movement in the run-up to WWII - and crucially how the good guys won (eventually...)

As Hitler's ascendancy began to make a Second World War inevitable, a clandestine network flooded the United States with disinformation aimed at sapping the strength of its war effort and persuading Americans that their natural alliance was with the Axis.

It was a sophisticated and shockingly well-funded campaign to undermine democratic institutions, promote antisemitism, and destroy citizens' confidence in their elected leaders, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the US government and installing authoritarian rule. Some of the country's most influential elected officials, including senators and members of Congress, worked to disseminate Nazi talking points, while fascist paramilitaries stockpiled bombs and weapons in preparation for violent insurrection.

Prequel unearths the forgotten story of these insurrectionists, as well as the heroic efforts of the journalists, prosecutors, and regular citizens who sought to expose their plot and bring them to justice. Deeply researched, the story of how the crisis was averted is also a deeply relevant tale for our own disquieting times.
  • Published: 27 May 2025
  • ISBN: 9781804996126
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 416
  • RRP: $24.99
Categories:

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Praise for Prequel

A ripping read. . . . The parallels to the present day are strong, even startling

New York Times (Editor's Choice)

A chilling history lesson... vivid, urgent, smart... Maddow makes clear that the crisis we face today is not new and that this realization should give us hope - because previous generations have faced this threat and overcome it.

Washington Post

What readers are saying about Prequel: ***** 'Highly recommend if you want to learn about how a country can come close to losing its democracy' ***** 'This book will turn your hair white.' ***** 'Rachel Maddow is fast becoming one of our greatest contemporary historians.' ***** 'A must for anyone interested in American history in the 20th century.'

Amazon reader reviews

A timely and fascinating book... There are many astonishing vignettes here... Rachel Maddow has written an important book. Pity that so few Republicans are likely to read or heed it. The word fascism no longer frightens half the people it should.

Max Hastings, Sunday Times
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