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Blood's a Rover by James Ellroy

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Nov 07, 2009

Summary

Set in the 1960s, the final novel in James Ellroy's 'Underworld USA' trilogy reflects the here and now, writes Christopher Tayler

James Ellroy often tells interviewers that he has no interest in current events, but even he seems to feel that the stars are in alignment for the publication of Blood's a Rover, the closing novel of his "Underworld USA" trilogy. This vast enterprise, which started appearing 14 years ago and now runs to nearly 2,000 pages, depicts 14 years of American history – from 1958 to 1972 – with a tight focus on conspiracies, murder, madness, corruption and racial hatred.

When Ellroy launched the series with American Tabloid (1995), right-wing paranoia about the Clinton presidency added wind to his sails, and with Obama in the White House conditions are even more favourable. Racially charged hysteria and accusations of communism are the ideological small change of the power players in these books. In a note appended to advance copies, Ellroy writes that "this is a book for these times!" It's also filled, he says needlessly, "with my trademar

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