The Plot Against America

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

In this alternate history, Charles Lindbergh defeats FDR in 1940 on a strong "no Americans in World War II" program. The book is told from the view of a Jewish boy he sees a gradual rise in anti-semitism in the US. There are plans to send urban Jews to farms to adopt American culture. While most Jews are against the administration, one Rabbi supports Lindbergh and rises high in the administration. The narrator has ties to all sides, with one brother going to a Kentucky farm, while another brother joins the Canadian army to fight Nazis. (This brother loses a leg and returns home a cripple.) Matters get worse, with a Jewish candidate being killed in Louisville. Then Lindbergh flies solo out there and disappears on the way back. The vice president eventually takes power and declares martial law. There are rumours that the Jews had him killed, whiles others that the Germans were behind it. Eventually, FDR gets elected to be president and America joins World War II. There is a possible history presented that Lindbergh was a puppet of the Nazis due to them kidnapping his son. However, Lindbergh refused to be as harsh with the Jews as they wanted so he was disposed of.

The story is a long look at life of northeastern urban Jews. People can easily turn to anti-semitism. However, legal and cultural protections do limit how far it could go in America vs in Germany.