In his latest book, prominent historical novelist Thomas Mallon turns his attention to Washington, DC in the time of Joseph McCarthy. While that era is best known for McCarthy’s witch hunt against alleged Communists in the State Department and Army, Mallon’s novel focuses on the quieter prejudice against gays in government and the lives of two men it transforms.

Tim Laughlin, a recent Fordham University graduate, devout Catholic and fervent anti-Communist, arrives in Washington in 1953, at the height of McCarthy’s power. He spends the summer as an intern at the Washington Star, where a chance meeting with Hawkins Fuller, an official in the State Department’s Congressional Relations Office, changes his life forever. Only seven years older than Laughlin, Fuller exudes a sexual energy that immediately attracts the younger man to him. Fuller helps secure Laughlin a job in the office of Senator Charles Potter, of Michigan, where Laughlin quickly finds himself embroiled in the political intrigue swirling around McCarthy and his ongoing investigations. The two soon are enmeshed in an intense relationship.

Fuller slips in and out of casual gay affairs, even while marrying and fathering a child. Through it all, his relationship with Laughlin waxes and wanes, though it’s clear Laughlin’s passion for him is never requited. Laughlin enlists in the Army in 1955 in a vain attempt to overcome his attraction, and when he’s discharged back to Washington he looks to rekindle their bond, seeking Fuller’s help in securing a position at the State Department. Fuller’s response is stunning in its callousness and brutality, and brings the book to an emotionally powerful climax.

In scenes blending fictional characters and historical figures such as McCarthy and Roy Cohn, Mallon effectively captures the atmosphere of fear and paranoia that pervaded government during the McCarthy era. He demonstrates equal talent at depicting the casual bigotry of that time toward gays or in portraying high stakes political infighting. Most moving, of course, is his portrait of the relationship between Laughlin and Fuller, especially when seen through Laughlin’s eyes. For readers who know little of the McCarthy era, Fellow Travelers is a worthy fictional introduction. Those who do will find themselves looking at this troubling time in American history with fresh eyes. ( )

I'm not a big fan of historical fiction or really adult fiction (as opposed to J or YA), but the premise of this book was too interesting to pass up. Fellow Travelers is the story of two men, Tim Laughlin and Hawkins Fuller, and one woman, Mary Johnson during the 1950s. The story focuses on the affair between Tim and Hawkins, and how this affair impacts their lives as well as Mary's -- and the friendship between the three of them.

Thomas Mallon's book was fantastic. He writes of a love affair taking place during a period when homosexuality was equated with being a communist. What makes this even more interesting, is that the three characters are all directly involved in the United States Government. Fuller and Johnson work for the State Department, while Laughlin works for a senator. Their stories are intertwined with events surround Joseph McCarthy and his search for communists in the US government.

While the writing is pretty much perfect, it's really the story that draws you in. The writing is just what gets you there. From the first chapter to the very end, you know where the story is going. From the back, you know that Fuller and Laughlin will have an affair and you know that eventually, it will all end in tragedy. You just don't know how. All credit to Mallon for keeping us on our toes, for when that tragedy did happen, it actually made me stop reading and stare.

This book will not make me read more historical fiction, if only because the books probably wouldn't live up to the high expectations of this book. It might make me go out and read more of Mallon's writing, because this book was quite good. ( )

I read this upon a recommendation from a friend. I'm not really sure why it's gotten such rave reviews. Yes, it is well written, but I didn't find any of the characters sympathetic or redeeming, and the "love story" was disappointing. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that even though there is a payoff in the end, it wasn't enough to warrant the rest of the book in my opinion. ( )

Thomas Mallon writes historical fiction with an emphasis on American political history. His latest is set in Washington during the McCarthy era, and concerns the relationship between Hawkins Fuller, a waspy State Department official and Timothy Laughlin, a conservative, devoutly Catholic aide to a Republican senator. Homosexuality being considered as much a "security risk" as communism, both men were of course closeted, but Washington was a town of open secrets and politics was a game of "who has what on whom." The political intrigue is absorbing, but the real story is about love, the inability to love, and how the closet distorts lives in the name of family values. ( )

At times witty and urbane, but a deep sadness through it all. Intersting view of Washington during the McCarthy era. ( )