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districtreads 's review for:
The Engineer's Wife
by Tracey Enerson Wood
I grew up in Brooklyn - nowhere near the Brooklyn Bridge (closer to the Verrazano in South BK) but some of my fondest memories involve walking across this bridge or seeing a glimpse of it while crossing from street to street. That’s why I was thrilled to get this @netgalley copy of THE ENGINEER’S WIFE by Tracey Enerson Wood.
Did you know a woman was key to making sure the Brooklyn Bridge could be completed? Emily Warren Roebling took up the project after her husband, Washington Roebling, became ill with “caisson disease”, now known as decompression sickness, partway through construction. How cool is that?
Enerson dives into Emily’s story, and you can tell there was depth and dedication to her research. It was fascinating to read about how the Bridge project came about, and I truly bought into the love behind Wash and Emily’s relationship. I even loved the engineering elements - I don’t think I fully comprehended quite how groundbreaking a feat this Bridge truly was at the time.
But there were a few issues for me. Enerson takes a lot of historical liberties - chief among them the appearance of P.T. Barnum - yes, that one - as a key part of the story and of Emily’s life and career. I was really challenged by that element of the storytelling and wasn’t fully bought in even when I turned the last page.
Well-written, fascinating, and an interesting glimpse into a woman who doesn’t get enough acclaim for her accomplishments, THE ENGINEER’S WIFE falls short when it comes to plot and a convincing historical re-imagining. If you enjoyed The Greatest Showman (I have to admit...I did not) you may really enjoy this one. But unfortunately, it was a bit of a disappointment for me.
Did you know a woman was key to making sure the Brooklyn Bridge could be completed? Emily Warren Roebling took up the project after her husband, Washington Roebling, became ill with “caisson disease”, now known as decompression sickness, partway through construction. How cool is that?
Enerson dives into Emily’s story, and you can tell there was depth and dedication to her research. It was fascinating to read about how the Bridge project came about, and I truly bought into the love behind Wash and Emily’s relationship. I even loved the engineering elements - I don’t think I fully comprehended quite how groundbreaking a feat this Bridge truly was at the time.
But there were a few issues for me. Enerson takes a lot of historical liberties - chief among them the appearance of P.T. Barnum - yes, that one - as a key part of the story and of Emily’s life and career. I was really challenged by that element of the storytelling and wasn’t fully bought in even when I turned the last page.
Well-written, fascinating, and an interesting glimpse into a woman who doesn’t get enough acclaim for her accomplishments, THE ENGINEER’S WIFE falls short when it comes to plot and a convincing historical re-imagining. If you enjoyed The Greatest Showman (I have to admit...I did not) you may really enjoy this one. But unfortunately, it was a bit of a disappointment for me.