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)

learn some American history

I love the way the author takes you through time. from the begining until 2001 you become attached to some characters. This is a great way to learn a little history.

Great way to learn about the city

Great way to learn about the city and country it’s a part of. Incredible in it’s breadth, you are still reminded of how much is left out. (No Joe Namath or Patrick Ewing references:-).

Some of the plot lines are really compelling. Others are a bit predictable. But still a very enjoyable way to learn history.
Very well performed and definitely recommend the Audible version.

Just wow

I can’t give this beautiful piece a more raving review. The history, the storyline, the characters that connected down through the generations. Rutherford did an incredible job depicting what life was like for those of all cultures and classes living in New York throughout the city’s history. I myself hail from upstate NY outside of Albany in the foothills of the Adirondacks and work in Saratoga Springs. I absolutely loved this book and was captivated by the story and the narration right from the beginning. I can’t wait to listen to more of Rutherford’s epic tales.

made my commute non existent

I actually wished for traffic so that I could continue with the story. highly recommend and will now continue on to other Rutherford novels, maybe Paris.

New Yorker

An amazing story with many deep messages for many different readers and achievers. May have been the best book that I have heard or read.

Wonderful

Great story, superb narrator. Really enjoyed it. A joyful way to be entertained and learn the history of the city.

Great story!

What an awesome story! I found this storyline so interesting! How the characters were interweaved with actual history makes the reader (lister in this case) like they are there! Bringing actual historical figures give the listener great context that ordinary people were also part of history. Wonderful story! I so glad I picked this story on a whim! I’m going to listen to London next!

History

Really loved the beginning more than the more contemporary years, but that is just personal preference. So interesting to think of NY when it was young!

Beautiful in every way!

A beautifully written & narrated history that follows families through several generations and important historical events.

Great historical fiction

This book brought back my memories of growing up in Brooklyn and the experiences that my grandmother shared with me of coming to N.Y. in 1920 @ 20 yrs old.
The historical sites n events that my grandparents,parents and I experienced were brought back to light by this book.
I'll always be a New Yorker, no matter where I live because it is n will always be in my blood.