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Lavette Family #3
The Establishment
Vintage hardcover
365 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
97 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Howard Fast
303 books254 followersHoward Fast was one of the most prolific American writers of the twentieth century. He was a bestselling author of more than eighty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays. The son of immigrants, Fast grew up in New York City and published his first novel upon finishing high school in 1933. In 1950, his refusal to provide the United States Congress with a list of possible Communist associates earned him a three-month prison sentence. During his incarceration, Fast wrote one of his best-known novels, Spartacus (1951). Throughout his long career, Fast matched his commitment to championing social justice in his writing with a deft, lively storytelling style.
Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham
Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 5, 2021
The first two novels in this series covered ~ 50 years of history, for both the Lavette family as well as world history. But this third one narrows the focus considerably, detailing just a few years. I can't help but wonder if the series started with only a single novel which sold well and therefore landed a sequel. Perhaps the author/publisher realized they had a good thing going so decided to proceed in a more detailed progression.
No matter. I've enjoyed these Lavette family novels so far and this one only added to it. The entire Lavette family gets their share of the limelight but the main focus is once again on Barbara, the daughter of the first novel's main character, Daniel Lavette. Historical themes include the hunt for commies via the House Un-American Activities Committee as well as the struggle for the establishment of Israeli statehood, among others. The title refers to the idea that there is an "Establishment" made of rich, powerful people who are the real power in the world rather than elected politicians. The characters in the story either find themselves at odds with them or try to join them.
If you enjoy family sagas, this series of six novels is worth checking out.
No matter. I've enjoyed these Lavette family novels so far and this one only added to it. The entire Lavette family gets their share of the limelight but the main focus is once again on Barbara, the daughter of the first novel's main character, Daniel Lavette. Historical themes include the hunt for commies via the House Un-American Activities Committee as well as the struggle for the establishment of Israeli statehood, among others. The title refers to the idea that there is an "Establishment" made of rich, powerful people who are the real power in the world rather than elected politicians. The characters in the story either find themselves at odds with them or try to join them.
If you enjoy family sagas, this series of six novels is worth checking out.
April 23, 2023
Πάει και το τρίτο της τετραλογίας. Ο Μακαρθισμος στο μεγαλείο του...
Δεν έχει κακούς ο Φαστ όμως! Μου κάνει εντύπωση
Δεν έχει κακούς ο Φαστ όμως! Μου κάνει εντύπωση
August 31, 2020
An interesting read
August 17, 2018
Forse meno coinvolgente dei primi due, ma la saga Lavette resta sempre una piacevole lettura
August 16, 2016
A marriage is crumbling.
People die.
Someone is sent to a minimum security prison for a couple of months and the worst that happens is toilet cleaning detail.
People die.
Someone is sent to a minimum security prison for a couple of months and the worst that happens is toilet cleaning detail.
August 26, 2017
I was not as impressed with this book as his masterpiece Citizen Tom Pain. There is less historic fact and more propaganda in the book and if I were to recommend Howard Fast, I would definitely go with Citizen Tom Pain.
December 11, 2018
COMPELLING READING.
“I stand at the rim of a lunatic asylum called civilization, and I listen to the obscenities of so-called leaders.” (p. 323).
The Establishment (Lavette Family #3), by Howard Fast is another absorbing novel of historical fiction. In this, the third novel in the (fictional) Lavette Family saga, Fast offers deft insights into the time immediate following WWII, including the founding of Israel (1948); and the ongoing horror of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings. A poignant glimpse at the late ’40s, early ’50s, era of McCarthyism.
Recommendation: A 5-star must-read, for fans of 1940s/1950s history.
“It didn’t matter that so much was wrong with the city, the state, and the country; enough was right to fill her with a feeling of well-being.” (p. 430)
Sourcebooks. Kindle Edition 432 pages
“I stand at the rim of a lunatic asylum called civilization, and I listen to the obscenities of so-called leaders.” (p. 323).
The Establishment (Lavette Family #3), by Howard Fast is another absorbing novel of historical fiction. In this, the third novel in the (fictional) Lavette Family saga, Fast offers deft insights into the time immediate following WWII, including the founding of Israel (1948); and the ongoing horror of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings. A poignant glimpse at the late ’40s, early ’50s, era of McCarthyism.
Recommendation: A 5-star must-read, for fans of 1940s/1950s history.
“It didn’t matter that so much was wrong with the city, the state, and the country; enough was right to fill her with a feeling of well-being.” (p. 430)
Sourcebooks. Kindle Edition 432 pages
September 17, 2009
As this third entry in the Lavette Family Saga begins, Barbara and her new husband Bernie are navigating difficult married waters. His heart is in Israel, and she resents the competition. Where the story goes from here is, as always, an energetic journey.
The largest part of the novel is given to Barbara's testimony before HUAC, and the repercussions of that testimony. As Howard Fast lived through this period, he clearly used his own painful experiences to give life to these sequences, and the prose crackles as a consequence.
Tom Lavette and his first wife, Jean, are beautifully drawn and continue to grow. I'm so sorry that they are aging - I know it won't be long before I'll be saying goodbye to these characters, and I'm dreading it.
My only disappointment, and the only reason the book has been reduced to four stars rather than five, is the disappointing subplot regarding Sally Lavette. It made the story drag. I really didn't care much about what was happening to this spoiled brat; I was anxious to get back to Barbara and the others. Likewise, Barbara's brother Tom does not have much to recommend him, but I realize that the stage has to be set for his further adventures in the remaining three books.
The largest part of the novel is given to Barbara's testimony before HUAC, and the repercussions of that testimony. As Howard Fast lived through this period, he clearly used his own painful experiences to give life to these sequences, and the prose crackles as a consequence.
Tom Lavette and his first wife, Jean, are beautifully drawn and continue to grow. I'm so sorry that they are aging - I know it won't be long before I'll be saying goodbye to these characters, and I'm dreading it.
My only disappointment, and the only reason the book has been reduced to four stars rather than five, is the disappointing subplot regarding Sally Lavette. It made the story drag. I really didn't care much about what was happening to this spoiled brat; I was anxious to get back to Barbara and the others. Likewise, Barbara's brother Tom does not have much to recommend him, but I realize that the stage has to be set for his further adventures in the remaining three books.
June 8, 2010
I had read the first book of this serise and didn't realize it unitl I was about 75 pages into the story. I didn't like the chachareters as well and didn't find a lot of history to walk away with. Lots of sentiment.
June 23, 2016
I enjoyed Book 3 very much, even though I didn't really expect to. So, I was glad to learn there are (three) more books, and I'll soon have Book 4 from the library.
May 30, 2018
A waste of time
January 10, 2021
A disjointed story of Lavettes - a sideways satire on American politics and freedom.
February 26, 2018
Il mio preferito dopo Il Vento di San Francisco, che mi ha fatta innamorare della storia della Famiglia Lavette. Ancora una volta Fast da una grande prova: non uno stile inimitabile, non una scrittura magistrale ma un rapidissimo page turner che incolla il lettore alla pagina e lo trascina nel vortice delle vicende di questa famiglia allargata che non smette mai di riservare sorprese.
Il passo della narrazione è davvero veloce: non si perde tempo in descrizioni inutili, pur essendo i personaggi delineati alla perfezione, non c'è tempo per giri di parole e parabole che deviano dalla storia principale. Troppe sono le cose che succedono, i twist di trama, i richiami alla storia mondiale per perdere tempo con pagine in cui non avviene qualcosa di fondamentale.
Solo per darvi una rapida idea di quello che succede in queste 400 pagine: viene fondato lo stato di Israele, si vive la guerra di corea, la caccia al comunista negli Stati Uniti prende sempre più piede e raggiunge pieghe inquietanti, qualcuno muore, qualcuno si sposa, qualcuno nasce, qualcuno divorzia, qualcuno viene condannato ingiustamente, c'è chi si innamora e chi decide che è meglio stare da soli.
Questo terzo volume è forse il più "sentito" dall'autore, che ha vissuto in prima persona la persecuzione dei "rossi" da parte della commissione McCarthy e che si è visto inserire nella famosa lista nera. Quale miglior scelta quindi di far vivere ad uno dei suoi personaggi quello stesso difficile periodo?
Che dire ancora? Cosa aspettate a tuffarvi nel vertiginoso universo della famiglia Lavette?
Il passo della narrazione è davvero veloce: non si perde tempo in descrizioni inutili, pur essendo i personaggi delineati alla perfezione, non c'è tempo per giri di parole e parabole che deviano dalla storia principale. Troppe sono le cose che succedono, i twist di trama, i richiami alla storia mondiale per perdere tempo con pagine in cui non avviene qualcosa di fondamentale.
Solo per darvi una rapida idea di quello che succede in queste 400 pagine: viene fondato lo stato di Israele, si vive la guerra di corea, la caccia al comunista negli Stati Uniti prende sempre più piede e raggiunge pieghe inquietanti, qualcuno muore, qualcuno si sposa, qualcuno nasce, qualcuno divorzia, qualcuno viene condannato ingiustamente, c'è chi si innamora e chi decide che è meglio stare da soli.
Questo terzo volume è forse il più "sentito" dall'autore, che ha vissuto in prima persona la persecuzione dei "rossi" da parte della commissione McCarthy e che si è visto inserire nella famosa lista nera. Quale miglior scelta quindi di far vivere ad uno dei suoi personaggi quello stesso difficile periodo?
Che dire ancora? Cosa aspettate a tuffarvi nel vertiginoso universo della famiglia Lavette?
December 21, 2019
Hardback 1979 - Inherited from Parents' Library
This is Book 3 of a series. I picked it to read it a couple of years ago from my shelves; I don't have the first two. This book is set in the late 40s, post WW II, into the 50s. It is very well written and deals with a lot of family dynamics that would have been prevalent at the time. There are family members with wide ranges of political ideals, various interests, and various vocational interests, all working together to show the conflicts, animosities, levels of compassion or lack thereof, support, and apathy. There is a lot of suspense as events unfold for the main characters. Toward the end, it will all fall together as the reader sees where it is going, with suspense remaining until the end. (I don't want this to be a spoiler, so I am intentionally skirting the historical references.) For those who are familiar with the political climate of the time, this book will come to a conclusion in the last few chapters with events that will remind the reader of real events. At several points, the reader will think of how unfair certain events are or what the characters "should have done" as the plot unfolds. Some of the situations will most likely make one feel rather upset with what "politicians" and "authorities" can do with no repercussions. This book was difficult to put down.
This is well worth the read. When I read this book, I knew nothing about the author. Knowing some of his background, I can understand more about why he wrote this book. He wrote his first novel right after he got out of high school. My copy is first printing of this book, so I don't know if there have been any subsequent edits.
This is Book 3 of a series. I picked it to read it a couple of years ago from my shelves; I don't have the first two. This book is set in the late 40s, post WW II, into the 50s. It is very well written and deals with a lot of family dynamics that would have been prevalent at the time. There are family members with wide ranges of political ideals, various interests, and various vocational interests, all working together to show the conflicts, animosities, levels of compassion or lack thereof, support, and apathy. There is a lot of suspense as events unfold for the main characters. Toward the end, it will all fall together as the reader sees where it is going, with suspense remaining until the end. (I don't want this to be a spoiler, so I am intentionally skirting the historical references.) For those who are familiar with the political climate of the time, this book will come to a conclusion in the last few chapters with events that will remind the reader of real events. At several points, the reader will think of how unfair certain events are or what the characters "should have done" as the plot unfolds. Some of the situations will most likely make one feel rather upset with what "politicians" and "authorities" can do with no repercussions. This book was difficult to put down.
This is well worth the read. When I read this book, I knew nothing about the author. Knowing some of his background, I can understand more about why he wrote this book. He wrote his first novel right after he got out of high school. My copy is first printing of this book, so I don't know if there have been any subsequent edits.
March 25, 2021
Da amante delle saghe familiari, questa famiglia di San Francisco, di origini italiane, mi aveva totalmente conquistata già col primo romanzo Il vento di San Franciscoche (per quanto mi è piaciuto) nonostante lo avessi già letto ho acquistato allo stand delle Edizioni E/O al Salone del Libro di Torino ed è gelosamente conservato nella mia libreria personale.
Questo terzo capitolo si concentra principalmente sulla sorte di Barbara Lavette, coniugata Cohen -figlia del capostipite Dan Lavette- e sui suoi guai giudiziari scaturiti da una sospetta adesione al partito comunista.
Attorno a lei, tutti i personaggi già caratterizzati nei due precedenti romanzi: i genitori Jean e Dan, i fratelli Tom e Joe, l'amica Sally e le loro rispettive famiglie.
Ambientato nel 1948, si interfaccia con alcuni episodi storici dell'epoca, quali quelli della lotta al comunismo da parte del governo statunitense, l'epoca d'oro di Hollywood e la nascita dello Stato di Israele.
Inutile dire che consiglio vivamente la lettura di questa saga, perché credo possa piacere a un vasto pubblico di lettori sia per gli argomenti trattati, sia per l'impeccabile caratterizzazione dei personaggi!
Questo terzo capitolo si concentra principalmente sulla sorte di Barbara Lavette, coniugata Cohen -figlia del capostipite Dan Lavette- e sui suoi guai giudiziari scaturiti da una sospetta adesione al partito comunista.
Attorno a lei, tutti i personaggi già caratterizzati nei due precedenti romanzi: i genitori Jean e Dan, i fratelli Tom e Joe, l'amica Sally e le loro rispettive famiglie.
Ambientato nel 1948, si interfaccia con alcuni episodi storici dell'epoca, quali quelli della lotta al comunismo da parte del governo statunitense, l'epoca d'oro di Hollywood e la nascita dello Stato di Israele.
Inutile dire che consiglio vivamente la lettura di questa saga, perché credo possa piacere a un vasto pubblico di lettori sia per gli argomenti trattati, sia per l'impeccabile caratterizzazione dei personaggi!
October 3, 2021
The Lavette, Levy and Seldon saga continues as we move forward in History. The original immigrants' children are now having children of their own. They are now branching out from the original boat building family business to other upcoming industries like Hollywood and Napa's wine country. In this book the family experiences WWII. Dan, having extensive ship building experience, is approached by the US government to build tankard for the war. He struggles once again about profiting from war time experiences. He suffers personally from this war. We see the economic boom after the war and the rise of the film industry and the effects this has on the family and Barbara Lavelle, Dan's daughter, meets and marries Bernie Cohen, an American Jew whose dream was always to join the fight in Palestine to help bring justice and peace to the Jewish people. He struggles with the love of his family in the US and the turmoil in Palestine. Barbara, on the other hand, is caught up in the McCarthy witch hunt because of her experiences in Paris. This book brings us into the Korean War era and we see Dan as an older man reflecting on his life.
February 27, 2023
n The Establishment, Howard Fast pulls the listener into the turbulent and passionate lives of the Dan Lavette family story begun in The Immigrants and continued in Second Generation.
Howard Fast again brings to life a cast of characters whose lives become a portrait of their time. Listeners will witness the events in the lives of the children of Dan Lavette: Follow daughter Barbara Lavette, a strong and magnetic personality, from tragedy to final fulfillment; observe the elder son, Tom, as he quests for and finally succumbs to his own unscrupulous drive for power; and feel the conflict as the younger son, Joe, struggles between dedication to his medical work to the poor and having no emotional strength left for his beautiful wife left alone.
Howard Fast again brings to life a cast of characters whose lives become a portrait of their time. Listeners will witness the events in the lives of the children of Dan Lavette: Follow daughter Barbara Lavette, a strong and magnetic personality, from tragedy to final fulfillment; observe the elder son, Tom, as he quests for and finally succumbs to his own unscrupulous drive for power; and feel the conflict as the younger son, Joe, struggles between dedication to his medical work to the poor and having no emotional strength left for his beautiful wife left alone.
February 5, 2017
As in the first two books, I was fascinated about how well Howard Fast brings his characters to life. Again, historical events like the Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and the Korean War, are creatively woven into the fabric of the story. I definitely liked the light hearted ending much better than in the second book.
April 14, 2019
As in the first 2 books in the series, there are many stories woven throughout the book that keeps it interesting. Barbara is again the focus in this one. The aftermath of World War II, Barbara finds herself being the target of McCarthyism and is accused of being a communist sympathizer.
April 14, 2021
I continue to enjoy this series and look forward to continuing the series after a little break to read something else. I am so grateful for Fast and these emotional and righteous novels. He was a fine writer.
August 31, 2018
Another winner
The depth of feeling and examination of the truly important things in one's life make this 3rd book of the series thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking.
The depth of feeling and examination of the truly important things in one's life make this 3rd book of the series thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking.
September 28, 2018
?cause I LOVE "pipponi"!!!!!
April 18, 2019
Great continuation
The books just keep getting better with the series. Lots of things going on, so much that it’s hard to put down.
The books just keep getting better with the series. Lots of things going on, so much that it’s hard to put down.
February 16, 2020
Simply unputdownable!
March 7, 2021
This is a wonderful read that highlights the creation of the Israeli State and the McCarthy era.
May 18, 2021
If you love historical fiction, life and drama this is a good read!
May 19, 2021
Excellent
Read
December 10, 2021Another good book in this series. All three have been wonderful. Got one more to go!
January 31, 2022
Loved it, as the previous ones. Now onto the next one. I just love the way he writes, there's something dependable on his characters, a solidity to the story. One of my favorite authors.
May 13, 2022
I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I suggest it to be read in order to understand the character backgrounds.
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