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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
The long novel traces the history of New York City, primarily Manhattan, through the lives of several families over time. Unlike others of his that I've read, this doesn't include a family chart, but it does have a good map the shows multiple time periods. The time covered here is 1664 to 2009 and characters include natives, Dutch, English, slaves, freemen, Irish, Italians, and Puerto Ricans. There are Quakers, Catholics, Anglicans, other Protestants, and Jews.
In the Revolutionary War period, we have a father and son on opposite sides of the struggle, and detail on the tax and representation issues that led to the war.
In the Civil War period, we see the complex trade issues that were at play.
In the Great Depression time, we see the effect of the collapse on finances of families, both good and bad.
There are self-made men, and those who lives on the inheritances of their predecessors. We see the evolution of skyscrapers including the building of the Empire State Building and the collapse of the World Trade Center. We see the status that Brooks Brothers clothing had for the wearers and the lives of the women sewing for them. We see the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and the building of the New York Public Library and its famous Reading Room. We see the rise of hotels and the Rockefeller Center, and the evolution of Coney Island.
One family line is present from start to finish, the Masters family. Others such as the Van Dycks, the Adlers, the O'Donnells and the Kellers appear and reappear.
There are some real historical figures, with the largest coverage of these given to Lord Cornbury and his likely real habit of crossdressing.
A very interesting book and a good way to learn some history of a very interesting city.
In the Revolutionary War period, we have a father and son on opposite sides of the struggle, and detail on the tax and representation issues that led to the war.
In the Civil War period, we see the complex trade issues that were at play.
In the Great Depression time, we see the effect of the collapse on finances of families, both good and bad.
There are self-made men, and those who lives on the inheritances of their predecessors. We see the evolution of skyscrapers including the building of the Empire State Building and the collapse of the World Trade Center. We see the status that Brooks Brothers clothing had for the wearers and the lives of the women sewing for them. We see the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and the building of the New York Public Library and its famous Reading Room. We see the rise of hotels and the Rockefeller Center, and the evolution of Coney Island.
One family line is present from start to finish, the Masters family. Others such as the Van Dycks, the Adlers, the O'Donnells and the Kellers appear and reappear.
There are some real historical figures, with the largest coverage of these given to Lord Cornbury and his likely real habit of crossdressing.
A very interesting book and a good way to learn some history of a very interesting city.
A very good book that combines historical fact about a truly great and cool city, and follows the social/economic/emotional lives of one family and the following generations. It took me over a month to read and digest New York mostly because I had to stop and re-read the historical background. Also, trying to follow the happenings of each generation - beginning in the early 1600s through present day - was a challenge.
The first three quarters of New York was excellent. The characters had depth and the detail of their lives was rich. However, once we hit the 1950s, it became a bit stale. There wasn't as much detail, background or explanation of characters and entire families that we'd met in the early part of the century became a footnote at the end.
Obviously the history of how New York came to be an epicenter of social and economical influence was intense. As an original colony, understanding the "American" and "British" influence was really important. But as I am from modern times, it would have been nice to have more details about the things that happened in New York in the 21st century. September 11 had an enormous impact on American life and New Yorkers. I felt that this part of the tale of The City was lacking. To illustrate how it changed our prejudices (of which there were a lot in the past 300+ years), social aspirations, economical lifestyle and more just wasn't there. I wanted to know so much more about Gorham Master and his life AFTER 9/11. I wanted to know more about Charlie Master, his father. What happened to him all those years with out his love, Sarah Adler? Without his son?
A very good book for sure. But could definitely have used a strong ending. The destruction of the Wampu belt on 9/11, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, actually had me choked up. "Pale Feather's Father" is how it all began.
The first three quarters of New York was excellent. The characters had depth and the detail of their lives was rich. However, once we hit the 1950s, it became a bit stale. There wasn't as much detail, background or explanation of characters and entire families that we'd met in the early part of the century became a footnote at the end.
Obviously the history of how New York came to be an epicenter of social and economical influence was intense. As an original colony, understanding the "American" and "British" influence was really important. But as I am from modern times, it would have been nice to have more details about the things that happened in New York in the 21st century. September 11 had an enormous impact on American life and New Yorkers. I felt that this part of the tale of The City was lacking. To illustrate how it changed our prejudices (of which there were a lot in the past 300+ years), social aspirations, economical lifestyle and more just wasn't there. I wanted to know so much more about Gorham Master and his life AFTER 9/11. I wanted to know more about Charlie Master, his father. What happened to him all those years with out his love, Sarah Adler? Without his son?
A very good book for sure. But could definitely have used a strong ending. The destruction of the Wampu belt on 9/11, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, actually had me choked up. "Pale Feather's Father" is how it all began.
I love the ambitious concept of this book. It dramatizes the history of New York City from the Dutch traders all the way through September 11, 2001 following one fictional family through generations. Any work covering a subject matter so complex and broad is bound to have problems.
None of the characters are particularly well developed and although the author tried to show some diverse perspectives the book predominantly follows rich white males. Since the patriarchal character was a Dutch fur trader this makes sense for the plot but definitely falls short in being a representation of the character do the city.
At times the writing felt like a list. A list of buildings, a list of people or a list of historical events.
Fascinating for the sweeping rang of time it continuously covered but you’d have to be really interested in NYC history to make the time investment to read this long book.
None of the characters are particularly well developed and although the author tried to show some diverse perspectives the book predominantly follows rich white males. Since the patriarchal character was a Dutch fur trader this makes sense for the plot but definitely falls short in being a representation of the character do the city.
At times the writing felt like a list. A list of buildings, a list of people or a list of historical events.
Fascinating for the sweeping rang of time it continuously covered but you’d have to be really interested in NYC history to make the time investment to read this long book.
Amazing. Follows a few families throughout the history of Manhattan starting in 1664 and ends in current time. While a fictional account, Rutherfurd clearly did his research and really knew the city he was writing about, making history come alive by intermingling historical figures into the lives of his fictional families. I expected more from the ending but after the 1950s it fell kind of flat and seemed like the last 50 years was added as an after thought- super sparse on details and major events. I do have to say I can't wait to read his other books!!
As always, Edward Rutherfurd's books are seeped in fact, fantastic fiction, and are as utterly believable as fiction. Loved it. Loved recognising all the areas and buildings described in the book. The characters were perfectly described - loveable and villainous at the same time.
This is exactly what you expect from Rutherfurd. Expansive history with rich characters and complex and satisfying storytelling. New York is one of the few cities in the US that has a long enough history to justify a Rutherfurd treatment. The trade-off is that there is a lot to cover. He does a decent job incorporating the native stories at the beginning in their interactions with the Dutch and English, and does make passing reference to pre-contact traditions. But including everything that has happened in New York from the earliest Dutch colony to 9/11 means that certain elements get shorter shrift.
Others have noted that the sections on more recent history, especially from WWI onward, seem abbreviated, and I have to agree. The sections that cover the years leading up to, through, and past the American Revolution take up nearly 200 pages, or almost a quarter of the whole book. (I'm counting from "Montayne's Tavern, 1758", which is where the Sons of Liberty originated, through "The Capital, 1790".) We read about every detail of many characters' lives in this period, whereas many of the events of the 20th century are alluded to in passing or by reference to events that have already happened. I wanted to read more about Salvatore Caruso, for example, and the descendants of the Rivers family.
All that aside, I enjoyed this book. It was difficult reading the short sections leading up to 9/10 and 9/11. Reading about the characters on the ground and knowing who was in the Towers was a sad reminder that real people were simply going about their regular activities, or taking chances on new opportunities, when everything was cut short. I was reminded of the adage about never going to bed angry with your partner or following an argument.
(I don't think it's a spoiler to say that some characters end up in the Towers or nearby on that day. I won't say who, obviously, or what happens to any of them, but I will say that I was wrong in who I thought would be where and what their fates would be. If anyone's truly bothered by this, let me know in comments and I'll add a tag.)
Finally, although there were helpful maps, and I kind of know where things are in New York, I did go to Google to look up the current locations of some of the older, now lost, landmarks. And I was surprised that there was not the standard family generations table that his other books all seem to have. I had to keep track in my head and I sometimes couldn't remember which of the Masters was the grandparent or great-grandparent. Such a reference would have been helpful.
And when I finished and closed the book, I wondered if Rutherfurd is bothered by his reviews and jacket blurbs STILL opening with, "In the tradition of James Michener..." Maybe I'll write a historical novel and ask the publisher to include a blurb reading, "In the tradition of Edward Rutherfurd..." I mean, seriously, Sarum was published in 1987.
Others have noted that the sections on more recent history, especially from WWI onward, seem abbreviated, and I have to agree. The sections that cover the years leading up to, through, and past the American Revolution take up nearly 200 pages, or almost a quarter of the whole book. (I'm counting from "Montayne's Tavern, 1758", which is where the Sons of Liberty originated, through "The Capital, 1790".) We read about every detail of many characters' lives in this period, whereas many of the events of the 20th century are alluded to in passing or by reference to events that have already happened. I wanted to read more about Salvatore Caruso, for example, and the descendants of the Rivers family.
All that aside, I enjoyed this book. It was difficult reading the short sections leading up to 9/10 and 9/11. Reading about the characters on the ground and knowing who was in the Towers was a sad reminder that real people were simply going about their regular activities, or taking chances on new opportunities, when everything was cut short. I was reminded of the adage about never going to bed angry with your partner or following an argument.
(I don't think it's a spoiler to say that some characters end up in the Towers or nearby on that day. I won't say who, obviously, or what happens to any of them, but I will say that I was wrong in who I thought would be where and what their fates would be. If anyone's truly bothered by this, let me know in comments and I'll add a tag.)
Finally, although there were helpful maps, and I kind of know where things are in New York, I did go to Google to look up the current locations of some of the older, now lost, landmarks. And I was surprised that there was not the standard family generations table that his other books all seem to have. I had to keep track in my head and I sometimes couldn't remember which of the Masters was the grandparent or great-grandparent. Such a reference would have been helpful.
And when I finished and closed the book, I wondered if Rutherfurd is bothered by his reviews and jacket blurbs STILL opening with, "In the tradition of James Michener..." Maybe I'll write a historical novel and ask the publisher to include a blurb reading, "In the tradition of Edward Rutherfurd..." I mean, seriously, Sarum was published in 1987.
For the most part I enjoyed this book. The first 70% - 80% was very interesting because historically I learned a lot that I wasn't aware of. Towards the very end the history of NY became too familiar so it wasn't as interesting. The multi generational approach Rutherfurd used helped keep your interest throughout most of the book. I would definitely recommend it - good read - learned a lot about New York City and its past.
This was almost two books - the first half, mostly during pre-revolutionary New York had all the great elements of historical fiction - a good mix of history and archetypal characters. It was just the right amount of both and the span of a few generations seemed to set the stage for the rest of the epic. Then it seemed to fall apart and the 19th and 20th centuries were more fiction than history, and worse, repetitive themes (wrong boy/girl, near misses with specific events) climaxing with a hokey, almost embarassing 9/11 scenario. Not Rutherfurd's best effort.
Excellent novel of New York, accurate history and interesting characters and stories.