Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci The Death of Power As We Know It - Elizabeth Day
Mar 3, 2026
Elizabeth Day, bestselling British author and host of How to Fail, discusses her new novel One of Us and its razor-sharp take on corruption and class. She explores collapsing patriarchal power, blending dark comedy with political drama, and how outsider perspective shaped her characters. The conversation touches on scandal-inspired figures, narrative choices, and a cautiously hopeful view of shifting institutions.
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Insider Outsider Tension Powers The Plot
- Day cites Gatsby, The Go Between, and The Talented Mr Ripley as influences where an insider-outsider dynamic drives tension.
- That archetype—one born privileged, one trying to infiltrate—recurs in her characters Martin and Ben.
Martin's Redemption Arc And Hidden Love
- Martin is secretly in love with his best friend Ben and slowly comes to terms with his sexuality across One of Us.
- Day revisited Martin to give him redemption and growth that she felt he lacked in The Party.
Narrative Choice Reflects Character Function
- Day uses first‑person for Martin because his role as an art history lecturer makes him a sharp observer, helping readers decode the social world.
- Other characters rotate through third‑person to give omniscient access and varied perspectives.
