A political thriller is a thriller set against the backdrop of a political power struggle, in which high stakes and suspense are central to the story, often forcing its audience to consider the importance of politics as the fate of a country rests in the hands of one individual. Political corruption, organized crime, terrorism and warfare are common themes.
Facts
Place of OriginThe genre took root in the early Cold War, following earlier political-conspiracy novels such as Alexandre Dumas's Three Musketeers books and Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent. 1 Notable ExampleRichard Condon's 1962 novel The Manchurian Candidate, set in the aftermath of the Korean War and the days of McCarthyism, is a defining work of the genre. 1 Defining TraitA political thriller is set against the backdrop of a political power struggle, in which high stakes and suspense, often turning on the fate of a country, drive the story. 1 FAQs
When did the political thriller take shape as a genre?
The political thriller took root in the early Cold War.
The genre took root in the early days of the Cold War. It followed earlier political-conspiracy novels such as Alexandre Dumas's Three Musketeers books. Richard Condon's 1962 novel The Manchurian Candidate, set in the aftermath of the Korean War and the days of McCarthyism, is a defining work of the genre.
Connections
Features Author
Source The Manchurian Candidate (Wikipedia)
Form Of Genre
Sources
1. Political Thriller (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
a thriller that is set against the backdrop of a political power struggle; high stakes and suspense are the core of the story
Literature section
Richard Condon's The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is set in the aftermath of the Korean War and the days of McCarthyism.
Literature section, second paragraph
The actual political thriller came to life in the early days of the Cold War.
View the Source The Manchurian Candidate (Wikipedia)
Features Author: The Manchurian Candidate, Lead sectionQuote, Features Author: The Manchurian Candidate, Lead section
The Manchurian Candidate (1959), by Richard Condon, is a political thriller about the son of a prominent U.S. political family who is brainwashed into being an unwitting assassin for a Communist conspiracy.
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