A Hall of Mirrors

Over his long and successful career, Robert Stone (1937-2015) wrote a number of unsettling and cynical novels set in the middle of critical moments of modern American history — the 1960s, the Vietnam War, Central American revolutions, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Stone’s books have extraordinary depth as they combine the personal and the political, and generally feature intricate storylines that are brought together with unusual skill. Unfortunately, his first novel — A Hall of Mirrors, which centers on a Rush Limbaugh-style right-wing radio commentator in early 1960s New Orleans — is poorly structured and with only flashes of the brilliant writing that would form the basis of his later masterpieces. Nonetheless, it has several memorable characters (especially the quick-witted but self-destructive radio DJ) and includes a fine fictional portrayal of alcoholism. The book was made into the 1970 film WUSA starring Paul Newman.