What Are The Critical Reviews Of House Of Cards: A Novel?

It’s really interesting to note how critics have responded to the novel, and many of them praise the political intrigue and character development of Francis Urquhart, who has been called modern-day Macbeth in his pursuit of power and moral decay. The way the author has woven in real historical events is also impressive and has sparked a lot of interest among readers and viewers of politics.

While some critics have found the novel far too cynical for their taste, others have argued that there are no truly likable characters in the book. The female characters in particular are underdeveloped and seem to be included largely as plot devices. However, in its influence on the large and ever-growing market for political thrillers, ‘House of Cards’ is a book that cannot be ignored. The successful TV adaptations of the book of the same name, first in the form of a British series written by Michael Dobbs and subsequently as two very different but successful American series, are a testament to Dobbs’ groundbreaking work.

Perhaps most interesting of all is the novel’s portrayal of the eternal ambition of politics, and how that can be allowed to flourish in our system. Urquhart is not a pleasant character to read about, and his actions are utterly reprehensible. But that is the point. This is a novel that exposes the worst of politics in order to reveal the best – and how tragic that is. A gripping read for anyone, politics enthusiast or not.