The Given Day

By: Dennis Lehane

Narrated by: Michael Boatman

Length: 23 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in Boston at the end of the First World War, New York Times best-selling author Dennis Lehane's long-awaited eighth novel unflinchingly captures the political and social unrest of a nation caught at the crossroads between past and future.

Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters more richly drawn than any Lehane has ever created, The Given Day tells the story of two families: one black, one white, swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, Brahmins and ordinary citizens, all engaged in a battle for survival and power.

Beat cop Danny Coughlin, the son of one of the city's most beloved and powerful police captains, joins a burgeoning union movement and the hunt for violent radicals. Luther Laurence, on the run after a deadly confrontation with a crime boss in Tulsa, works for the Coughlin family and tries desperately to find his way home to his pregnant wife.

Here, too, are some of the most influential figures of the era: Babe Ruth; Eugene O'Neill; leftist activist Jack Reed; NAACP founder W. E. B. DuBois; Mitchell Palmer, Woodrow Wilson's ruthless Red-chasing attorney general; cunning Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge; and an ambitious young Department of Justice lawyer named John Hoover.

Coursing through some of the pivotal events of the time, including the Spanish Influenza pandemic and culminating in the Boston Police Strike of 1919, The Given Day explores the crippling violence and irrepressible exuberance of a country at war with, and in the thrall of, itself. As Danny, Luther, and those around them struggle to define themselves in increasingly turbulent times, they gradually find family in one another and, together, ride a rising storm of hardship, deprivation, and hope that will change all their lives.

©2008 Dennis Lehane (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"[An] engrossing epic....A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit." ( Publishers Weekly)

Awesome story awesome perfirmance!

Michael Boatman is the very best of narrators! The story is filled with characters that he brought to life!

Loved it!

This epic story was well-read. I couldn’t wait to get into the car to listen to more of this gripping story. Sadly, the world hasn’t changed much in 100 years.

Great reader and take on history

We loved the reader and his voices. Liked the slant on history and the way the characters evolved and eventually came together.

Too long

I love Lehane books, but this was tough to get through. could have easily cut 4 hours and still get the point across.

Amazing

The plot, the narration, the history, the characters--this is one one of my favorite books ever.

great listen!

Micheal Boatman was amazing, his character voices we're right on. He did a wonderful job of illustrating the author's words. I highly recommend.

Best American novel I've read in 20 years

Gripping drama from start to finish and relevancy to today's tumultuous world in remarkable ways.

Good story, Great narrator

I'd love a follow up to see what happens to the characters. A different Dennis Lehane book but very entertaining. Also, the narrator was excellent. Sometimes, with audio books, the narrators are so annoying I can't finish listening to the book.

lots of Boston History

what an incredible story of an Irish family in Boston. it touches on so many different historic events all in one book: the boston Police Strike, Babe Ruth getting traded to the Yankees, athe Great Molasses flood, Prohibition, etc...

The narrator is amazing.

The narrator is amazing. Interesting story and great to listen to. Highly recommend. I wanted to continue to listen and listen.