Mactrump Lib/E: A Shakespearean Tragicomedy of the Trump Administration, Part I

by Ian Doescher

For readers craving a humorous antidote to the sound and the fury of American politics, this clever satire, written in iambic pentameter in the style of Shakespeare, wittily fictionalizes the events of the first two years of the Trump administration.

No one thought that MacTrump—Lord of MacTrump Towers, Son of New York—would ascend to the highest position in the kingdom. Yet with the help of his unhappy but dutiful wife Lady MacTrump, his clever daughter Dame Desdivanka, and his coterie of advisers, MacTrump is comfortably ensconced in the White Hold as President of the United Fiefdoms, free to make proclamations to his subjects through his favorite messenger, McTweet.

The Democrati, mourning the loss of their cherished leader O’Bama, won’t give up without a fight. They still remember the disastrous reign of George the Lesser, and they can see Putain’s dark influence on MacTrump. Their greatest hope is MacMueller, tasked with investigating the plot that empowered MacTrump’s rise to the throne.

As Desdivanka schemes to overthrow her father’s councilors, and as Donnison and Ericson—trapped in their own Rosencrantz and Guildenstern-like storyline—prove useless to their father, MacTrump soon realizes he has no true allies. Will he be able to hold on to his throne? Only time will tell in this tragicomic tale of ambition, greed, and royal ineptitude.

Genres: Humor, Shakespeare, Plays, Poetry, Fiction, Audiobook, Drama

Audio CD

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Ian is the author of the William Shakespeare Star Wars series and the Pop Shakespeare series, and other books. He's a Portland native, and lives in Portland with his family.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have fun reading Ian's work that he turns into plays in the Shakespearian style. He knows his Shakespeare for certain and he's so good writing in verse. Politics and Shakespeare go very well together. The histories or all about political intrigue and the War of the Roses.

Ian takes the first 2 years of the Trump presidency and turns this into a political game. Desdivanka is a Machiavellian mob boss in this practically. It really would be fun to see this put on stage. Trump is old and so MacTrump in the book is in constant need of a bathroom. Mctweet is a character that will tweet out messages to the kingdom. Rudy is the fool in this called Fooliani. All the names of people are changed into more Shakespeare characters names. One of the best is Stephen Miller is Gargamiller. There are lords and ladies and political fighting. It really does work very well I thought.

I will say, I am so tired of hearing about all this and I'm ready for it to just go away. Still, this is a new spin and it is funny and clever. My favorite line is: MacTrump says, "Thou art as useless as a Bible in a whorehouse." That tickled me. There are so many good references in here and Ian always pulls in famous Shakespeare quotes. AOC/Cleosandria gets the line = Friends, Romans(was changed), Countrymen, lend me your ears. I love getting those lines we know throne in. He will also throw in things people say in real life or tweets, even. It's very well done.

If a second part comes out, I will have to read that too. I've about read all Ian's stuff. I have a few more left.

[Taylor Calabria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! My favorite work from Jacopo yet! The characters were wonderful and I’d love to see this performed across the country.

If you like Shakespeare and political comedies, this is the book for you. I am particularly pleased that both democrats and Republicans are parodied in the play, making it a gift for all political leanings (especially those independent voters).

I don’t want to spoil anything, but this does cover the first two years of Trumps “reign.” It does a great job covering both the big events and issues as well as the more quiet ones. I felt the authors even predicted the future at times. Can’t wait to read the next play on the final 2 years of Trump’s first term!

[max theodore · Rating 3 out of 5]

two real-life pieces of information: i received this book as a birthday gift from a very close friend, and while i was reading it, white nationalists stormed the capitol.

so. uh. you could say i have some mixed feelings about this one that are maybe a little informed by current us politics?

look, i knew going in that this was going to be a little "orange in the white house" liberal comedy, yknow. and it is - trump is a bumbling idiot, as is most of the rest of his staff/family; there's some vague glorification of pelosi and AOC (and some vague mockery of bernie sanders); the political views taken are pretty... y'know. "fascism bad, racism bad, liberty and justice good" which. yeah fair. plus there were some legitimately good jokes (mar-iago and "i verily don't care. do u" stand out as things that made me genuinely laugh)

i just think... i wish it had gone further? bc it's a genuinely well-written play (the fact that the authors did this whole thing in iambic pentameter. damn) but i feel like the analysis of politics / the country currently is very shallow and surface level. and okay, you are saying, but max, it's a comedy, that's literally the point. it's harmless fiction meant to make people who hate trump laugh. and i do get that. but recent political events (i again would like to point out: The Capitol Was Stormed) have made me... less and less interested in that kind of comedy. because i feel like we are at the point (and maybe we always were) where "haha trump eats mcdonalds and putin has him on a leash" jokes don't do justice to the actual real harm this man has caused in the world and that he continues to cause even now, with less than a week left in his term. i get the urge to mock him. i do. but donald trump is a genuinely dangerous person who has genuinely ruined & ended lives through his policies and platforms and positions. and that makes this kind of comedy hard to swallow. whether or not "pox network" never stopped being a little funny

[Dustin]

Oh, my gosh.☺ This sounds hysterical! Be sure to check out the GR giveaway if you're interested.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

MacTrump is a fantastic, entertaining piece of political parody. The best political parody. There is no other political parody that comes close to the amazingness of Mactrump. It puts all other political parodies to shame. Bigly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for my copy of MacTrump in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more. I am hoping once the real Trump is removed from office, I will be more amused by the comedy of the parody. But now I'm more saddened by the tragedy of it.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern adaptations of Shakespeare are popular, so why not adapt modern life into Shakespeare? In MacTrump, Shakespeare's Macbeth meets the first two years of Trump's presidency and it is marvellous.

MacTrump is comedy, it's satire, it makes the current political situation just a little bit easier to bear. You do need to follow US politics quite closely to get every reference. I am a news junkie and even I had to google a few things. For instance, I had completely forgotten about Sean Spicer hiding from the White House press corps in the bushes. I assume it's details like that which will keep this from aging well. I doubt many people will still be reading it ten years from now.

I liked the role of McTweet, a simple but effective way to incorporate Twitter into the story without having to include computers and smartphones. Also kudos for whoever came up with Fooliani. I couldn't help but chuckle whenever he popped up in a scene.

(I received a free copy from Quirk Books via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.)

[BookTrib.com]

“I hope MacTrump will help people laugh at something they would normally cry over.”

As the tides turn and impeachment inquiries fill the news, MacTrump arrives at just the right time. Between the whole Ukraine mess and embarrassing moments on the world stage, a potential Shakespearean fall from grace is ripe for parody.

Power struggles, bitter rivalries, betrayals and a dash of comic relief are all hallmarks of a Shakespeare play and America’s current political landscape. Known for his Shakespearean adaptations of pop culture, author Ian Doescher has teamed up with former Obama staffer Jacopo della Quercia (real name Giacomo Calabria) to explore the current presidency with MacTrump: A Shakespearean Tragicomedy of the Trump Administration, Part I (Quirk Books).

Written in the style of Shakespeare, this clever satire wittily fictionalizes the events of the first two years of the Trump administration.

No one thought that MacTrump–Lord of MacTrump Towers, Son of New Yorktown—would ascend to the highest position in the kingdom. Yet with the help of his unhappy but dutiful wife Lad MacTrump, his clever daughter Dame Desdivanka, and his coterie of advisers, MacTrump is comfortably ensconced in the White Hold as President of the United Fiefdoms, free to make proclamations to his subjects through his favorite messenger McTweet.

The authors told us more on how the book came about:

Our interview with the authors: https://booktrib.com/2019/10/blood-on...

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

MacTrump is the latest in Ian Doescher's list of Shakespeare mashup books. This time, he brings together Macbeth and the first two years of the Trump administration in a bitingly satirical volume written in iambic pentameter. A lot of this was very clever and funny, particularly in personifying Twitter as a herald named McTweet! In general I found this to be fun and well-executed, if a little long if read in only a couple of sittings. I find this sort of satire often works best in smaller doses, and I found myself a bit fatigued at times, but perhaps reading it in smaller chunks would alleviate this problem.

I do think you will get the most out of this if you follows the news pretty closely. While parts of it are based on things very widely known, other things are a little more obscure. I suspect this might keep it from aging well, but then political satire is often quite of the moment. Overall, I liked this and I generally enjoy Ian Doescher's work. I think it's smart and his writing with Shakespearean language is well-executed and thoughtful. Worth picking up if it sounds interesting to you! I was sent a copy of this book for review by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If thou art a fan of the current president, thou wilt not care for this story. The authors insist that “MacTrump” is full of alternate facts and fake characters and “if any of our characters sound smarter, stupider, similar, or dissimilar to any celebrity or public figure, alive or dead, there’s a reason: this book is a parody.”

I review "MacTrump" in The Oregonian.
"MacTrump" Turns Donald Trump’s First Two Years as President into a Shakespearean Satire"MacTrump: A Shakespearean Tragicomedy of the Trump Administration, Part I, by Ian Doescher and Jacopo della Quercia

[Allison Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ian Doescher and his style of writing.

[Kirsten Hankinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrible man, fantastic read. Truly a work of art- Shakespeare would be proud.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

I found this "retelling" of MacBeth to be very clever! The parallels between real life and Shakespeare's MacBeth are crazy!

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors are to be commended for taking a subject that has alarmed people the world over and helping us to laugh about it. This is funny and eloquent at the same time. And with the news as it is now, this book is exactly what was needed. Bravo!

[Heather Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

MacTrump is humorous and entertaining of the President's errors. Although they couldn't out all of his stupidity into this book they covered some good stuff.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much craft and research went into producing this. I’m still not quite sure why, but it was a very enjoyable read.

[jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's as fun as your knowledge of US politics, Trump family dynamics and the story of Macbeth.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wit abounds in this readable Trump-speare mash-up. Exquisitely thought out.

Macbeth and Trump. Who knew? Yes, the two brought together make for a dark but deliciously diverting Shakespearean tale of corrupted power, fawning obsequiousness, and bloody-thirsty politics. You can see the parallels already.

It is the way the writer puts the Trump administration, family and surroundings into the Macbeth tale that is highly admirable and inventive. To appreciate this fully, you'd need to know the original play, though as someone with a passing knowledge of it (I have read the play and seen it performed but still feel I missed references) I would say that anyone familiar with just the Trump administration would still revel in the murky machinations that are clearly recognisable from reporting.

I won't go into all the fabulous comparisons Doescher makes between Shakespeare and Trump, but he uses Macbeth and the wider canon freely (Mar-Iago, Tempest Daniels and Pox Network made me laugh). Language itself is a tool put to excellent use as readers will delight in wordplay (Sir James DogComey of the Deaf Beehive).

The soliloquies that the Bard is famous for are put to good use, as we get insights into Desdivanka's mind. And the anachronistic problem of mobile phones and social media in an Elizabethan setting is smartly overcome - it is still both contemporary but yet not. Even Orwell gets a mention - with 'ThoughtCrimes' and 'Doublethink' and 'plusgood' - Lady Kellyann Boleyn features here.

Taking in the first two years of Trump's presidency, key events are recognisable. I wanted more when I got to the end, I wanted to see the whole story played out. The author's political opinions are rather clear, and the readership will likely be made up of those who are in line with this. I took great delight in seeing these characters portrayed as they were, and in knowing a good proportion of the world views things similarly.

The afterword was rather fascinating, seeing how the author and his collaborator met and found their shared interest, eventually bringing this story to life. There is mention of an online Readers' Guide and interview.

Genius. More please!

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have finished this so much sooner but I forgot it at school over winter break and then I had a ton of work to do for the new semester. So don’t take how long this book took me to finish as a sign of dislike -- I actually really enjoyed it! I just had to read it in small chunks since the Shakespearean language kind of puts me to sleep.

This was a lot funnier than I expected. I wasn’t audibly laughing all the time, but I did chuckle here and there. I really enjoy political comedy so I am definitely the target audience, but I think anyone that is fairly knowledgeable on the major events of Trump’s presidency will find something to laugh at.

This book definitely feels like it is flitting from major-event to major-event and is lacking in terms of a plot. The last act was really strong and tied some things together, but the first half felt very fragmented and was probably the worst part of the book. Since the last quarter was so strong I’m super excited for part 2 (if it ever gets published)!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hilarious satire at its finest. I absolutely loved reading this. It fell like I was in the middle of a Trump Shakespearean tale. I found myself laughing out loud on this one. Told in iambic pentameter, it tells of Trump’s first two years in office. Full of political characters, drama, laughter, and disasters, this is one relatable to all looking for a laugh fitting current American policy.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Methinks that, if thou hast humor, thou wilst find plusgood this tale of MacTrump , Lord Viceroy Pound, Dame Desivanka, Fooliani (a jester), Sean Spicero and Lady Sarah Puckabee, heralds, and , of course, McTweet (a messenger), in the royal retinue of the president of the United Fiefdoms. Two years only of MacTrump's rule is penned, with worriments domestic abounding. If concerned ye be of current troubled history, yonder scroll will please and entertain.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was good to win this book. It truly is a Shakespearean tragedy that won't end. There were some funny parts, but I guess that's all we can do with this administration. A good look back at all that happened in the first 2 years.

[Lcitera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceedingly clever. The revised names, the Shakespearian patter...the humor. Very enjoyable.

[Josh Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different than Doescher's other Shakespearean themed works, especially since it's based on real events. Enjoyable if you like Shakespeare and don't like Donald Trump.

[Jeimy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this one just hits too close to home.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.25 stars)

The difficulty in satirising any section of the Trump presidency, whether it is the early days, the COVID year, or even the recent reelection that seems ever more a nightmare to engage with, let alone laugh about, is that there’s this delicate balancing act necessary of portraying the Trump administration as bumbling fools and understanding that they do kind of know exactly what they’re doing. MacTrump is a difficult one because on the one hand, turning the increasingly horrifying early days of Trump’s first presidency into a farce of a Shakespearean tragedy is kind of brilliant and fun, and yet it also feels like it’s extremely liberal in its outlook on politics and doesn’t go nearly far enough with engaging the fundamental failures of the political system, as well as treats Trump with too softer touch. It’s funny, brilliantly written and keenly translated, as Doescher and Quercia really do understand Shakespere, but it just feels shortsighted, in no small part due to the recency of the events. Very solid, almost great, but just not quite there.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clever book, re-imagining the first two years of the Trump administration as a Shakespearean tragedy, mostly drawing from Macbeth.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the Star Wars series (and the Get Thee Back to the Future!), not due to the quality of the book itself, but because it is a sad moment in History. Although funny in many ways, it’s impossible to simply laugh without feeling the immense tragedy of it all.

As with all the previous works by Doescher, I highly recommend buying the audiobook; being a play, it gains immensely from listening to the (very good) voice actors.

Favorite quotes:

Act V, Scene 3

DESDIVANKA : He took the Democrati bait so quickly,
As if he were an undernourish’d shrimp.

Act V, Scene 5

MACTRUMP : Thou art as useless as a Bible in
A whorehouse.

[Luke Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself laughing aloud throughout this book. I'd pay good money to see this performed by seasoned Shakespearean actors. Every page is full of highlights and nuggets of greatness. Not only is the entire play written in Shakespearean language (more or less--it's mainly intelligible for a modern audience), it's actually structured like a Shakespearean play too. (The scenes/subplot with Donnison and Ericson as the "clowns" really made me think of this.) We get real insight into the characters' motivations and fears... I really enjoyed this offering, if you can't tell.

[Ronan O'Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished MacTrump and was astonished by how smoothly it fits the bizarre first two years of the Trump era into the framework of an Elizabethan drama. It's really a remarkable achievement. People say satire is impossible today because the Trump world was (and still is!) so weird but Doescher successfully satirizes by skillfully putting it into a Shakespearean tragic comedy it is. I especially enjoyed puns like Pox News and Foolianni!