New York

The Novel

By: Edward Rutherfurd

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 37 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The best-selling master of historical fiction weaves a grand, sweeping drama of New York from the city's founding to the present day.

Rutherfurd celebrates America's greatest city in a rich, engrossing saga that showcases his extraordinary ability to combine impeccable historical research and storytelling flair. As in his earlier, best-selling novels, he illuminates cultural, social, and political upheavals through the lives of a remarkably diverse set of families.

As he recounts the intertwining fates of characters rich and poor, black and white, native born and immigrant, Rutherfurd brings to life the momentous events that shaped New York and America: the Revolutionary War, the emergence of the city as a great trading and financial center, the excesses of the Gilded Age, the explosion of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the trials of World War II, the near-demise of New York in the 1970s and its roaring rebirth in the '90s, and the attacks on the World Trade Center. Sprinkled throughout are captivating cameo appearances by historical figures ranging from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln to Babe Ruth.

New York is the book that millions of Rutherfurd's American fans have been waiting for. A brilliant mix of romance, war, family drama, and personal triumphs, it gloriously captures the search for freedom and prosperity at the heart of our nation's history.

©2009 Edward Rutherford (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"Like James Michener and Leon Uris, Rutherfurd does a magnificent job of packaging a crackling good yarn within a digestible overview of complex historical circumstances and events." (Booklist)

"History has never been so fun to read.... Rutherfurd's research is exhaustive...fun.... This is history, but with a very readable story line." (USA Today)

Great story, glosses over inequality

The writing is beautifully done. My problem was the author's overt and over-the-top admiration for the Conferedate military and the deep sadness he expressed at their defeat. He spends a lot of time discussing the "kindly" slave owners.

Later, the author completely ignores the damage and trauma of the AIDS epidemic on NYC and end with the idea debunked idea that to succeed one only needs a work ethic and imagination. You need both but you also need some luck, some help and a workaround for the systemic and institutionalized bigotry the country was founded on.

Good Parts, Very Good Parts, Some Not So Good

One of the perks of being a lifelong New Yorker is seeing the city in books, movies, TV shows, songs, etc. Once I even saw my own house (from before I moved in) used as a location (in Hackers), another time Julia Roberts was on our stoop for a scene from Duplicity (and using our parlor as her green room). But in a monumental work like this book, there are many many sites, events, and even people who are already quite familiar to us local denizens.

Covering the centuries from Nieuw Amsterdam to 9/11, Edward Rutherford follows the ups and downs of several families (only one from start to finish) as they experience the colonial era, revolution, the Civil War era, the Gilded Age, the world wars, the Great Depression, all the way up to 9/11 -- some future historical novelist will have to deal with what New York City went through over the past few years.

For me, most of this is good, some of it gets very good, and some, meh, not so good. The best parts, as in all historical fiction, are when the characters are central, experiencing history, rather than mere cut-outs swept up by history. A Civil War photographer, for example, shining a lens on the war (sorry!) through an exhibit of his pictures, is a better telling of that era than going on location to Gettysburg or other sites. Likewise the relentless downturns in the lives of a black family even after they are freed from slavery.

On the other hand, devoting about 20% of the nearly 40 hour running time to the Revolution was just too much -- especially since the World Wars barely exist in this history of New York, in Rutherford's telling. And excuse me, but the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire? Could have found something a little more innovative than that to illustrate that period of time (and this from someone who took classes at NYU in the building where that fire took place many years earlier).

But the worst thing that makes me take my Story rating down to 3 stars: abandoning the story of the black family at the end of the Civil War with one photographic image -- horrific, requiring more of that story, not complete abandonment. And that after a commendable treatment of slavery in New York up to that point. Other families are likewise abandoned, other than the English family that survives it all.

Overall, for a 37-hour book to keep my interest in a subject I already know so well? Good. Not the eye opener some other works of historical fiction have been (Golden Hill for colonial New York) or even historical non-fiction (The Half Has Never Been Told about slavery in the U.S.). But worth it if you like the subject matter and have the time to invest in it.

Most Interesting Historical Book

I’ve never been much of a history buff, I do enjoy historical fiction. This book was excellent and brought clarity to many historical events.

The Perfect Book

Absolutely captivating! A must read with a strong and empowering message. Edward Rutherford captured the elite to the poor so beautifully.

Awesome

I loved the storyline and the narration. It was so interesting to learn about the history of New York. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

The historical references..

Felt as though I knew many of characters. I cared what happened to them. Enjoyed every word.

A lovely tale of ambition, love, hard work and triumph

In many ways the author shows the character of New York through the people who inhabit it - and does so rather deftly. Despite the rapid pace through time, you find something to love about each character you encounter and something deeply human about how they respond to the world around them.

Fascinating way to view history and how our environment shapes us and our descendants - a very worthwhile and informative read

Captivating

Love every twist and turn. The history, the up and downs of life. Very rewarding and inspiring

I fell in love with NYC all over again

Enjoyable historical novel that provided a perspective and gave the big picture. The Master family was a great choice as many events and stages wove in and out of their lives. Highly recommend!

Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish.

Wonderful book and a great listen. Can’t recommend enough especially if you love historical fiction.