It Can't Happen Here

“It Can’t Happen Here” is a 1935 dystopian political novel by American author Sinclair Lewis. The story is set in a fictionalized version of 1930s United States and follows an American politician, Berzelius “Buzz” Windrip, who quickly rises to power to become the country’s first outright dictator. The novel describes the rise of Windrip, a demagogue who is elected President of the United States, after fomenting fear and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and “traditional” values.