| Title | : | New York |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0345497422 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780345497420 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 862 |
| Publication | : | First published September 3, 2009 |
| Awards | : | Goodreads Choice Award Historical Fiction (2013), David J. Langum Sr. Prize American Historical Fiction (2009) |
New York Reviews
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Reminds me of James Michener.
It’s billed as assessable history, so depending on your base line parts seem rushed and lite. In places the research shows like the opposite of an actor giving a seamless performance. But, he covers a lot of territory from angels I don’t often read—Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address from a press photographer’s point of view.
Follows a prospering mostly WASP family from New Amsterdam to post-911. Their name is Masters. Stop rolling your eyes if they get stuck looking into the back of your head then you can’t read anymore.
There are other families to illustrate slavery, natives, and immigration. No point in getting to attached to any of them for the most part they’ll be gone in a few chapters. There are wars to prosper from and fires to fight. The city is the star no matter which story line your following.
I loved those independent Dutch women.
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Edward Rutherfurd is an exceptional historical fiction author. His attention to details, the character development, the emotion, the settings, the multi-generations bring his books to life. If historical fiction is a genre you love and you haven't read any of his books yet, it's a must. And perhaps New York is the perfect Rutherfurd novel to start with.
Why?
1. It's told in sequence, no jumping from the past to the present like in Paris, so it might be easier to follow for some. The novel starts when New York was called New Amsterdam and ends in the 1960's. Long before skyscrapers, there was a wildness, a wickedness, and Rutherfurd does an outstanding job of sharing the good, the bad, the ugly, the touching, the heartbreak, the hope, the love and passion.
2. The characters are incredibly fascinating and you'll want to follow their lives.
3. Despite the length of this novel, it's an easy read.
4. Multi-generational with appearances by famous Americans.
5. Relatable. Even if you've never been to New York, New York is a place Americans know. But I've also learned through my travels around the world that many people from other countries equate New York to America. It is by far our most iconic city, and this is an opportunity to learn so much more.
Highly recommend!
I looking forward to Rutherfurd's China, which will be coming out in 2018! I'm really curious about it. How will he handle an entire country? -
I like reading somewhat trashy historical family sagas, but I was expecting a little more diversity in this book following four centuries of the history of New York and the people who lived in it. After all, New York is a hubub of multiculturalism, but this book ends up being overwhelmingly Anglocentric. The African-American family disappear halfway through the story, the Italians get a few chapters and then only a few cameos, and the Puerto Ricans just a few appearances as the 'friends' of the main character at the end. The story is also extremely choppy - as I guess a 1000 page novel dealing with four hundred years would be - but it seems that a lot of the time some of the more interesting aspects of New York history are glossed over or mentioned as a passing reference. The story ends, as expected, with 9/11, and true, there is a poignant final note as the tale comes full circle - but as you close the book you cannot help feeling a little disappointed by what could have been.
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Audiobook/sync with my ebook.
Mark Bramhall was the narrator of the Audiobook....( 37 hours and 17 minutes long)....shorter if interchanging with ebook-reading.
An 860 page historical fiction book is not a zippy-quickie read.
Yet....it’s the type of book that gives a reader a glow of pride when finishing it.
Edward Rutherfurd, has a reputation for being KING of HISTORICAL FICTION writing. Well, “New York” is definitely exceptional, that’s for sure.
I’ve been wanting to read Rutherfurd’s books for 20 years! Finally.... and now that I’ve gotten my feet wet and tested the waters.... I’m even more excited to read other Rutherfurd books... thinking “London” might be my next choice.
I LOVED THE PUGNACIOUS & POLYCHROMATIC CHARACTERS!!!(like those juicy words?)....
Ha....well, the characters ‘are’ juicy interesting!
Doesn’t everyone have a New York story....or two or three?
Ha....my very first trip to New York was when I was 18 years old.
I was alone on my way to Israel. I had a scary first night in New York — I was being followed by a Frenchman who had been sitting next to me on a bus. It was late, and dark. After landing at Kennedy airport. I took a bus into Manhattan needing to find a place to sleep. The next day I was leaving for Israel.
I got off the bus. Frenchman got off too and started following me... I started running. He started running. I started crying ... I didn’t look back to see if he was crying. I quickly ran into a hotel that was way more expensive than I could afford. Shaking with tears- the desk man gave me a free room to stay for the night. I’ll always be thankful for his kind generosity. It felt like he saved my life! I was ‘that’ scared.
I hadn’t had food all day. I managed to sleep a little that night - tummy growling- still scare - but wouldn’t leave my room until early the next morning....I got up early, headed back to the airport. I sat in the busy airport all day -but felt safe there -until my next plane took off.
I’ve had many more memorable pleasurable experiences in New York since that first visit. I even worked in New York in my
mid -20’s. I enjoyed my morning runs through Central Park before work.
Love to know about others 1st time walking the streets in NYC!!!!
I chose this book - now - as my way ( silly I suppose)... to give thanks to governor Andrew Cuomo, who for me has been one of my favorite leaders to follow, listen to.... during these coronavirus days. He’s the only leader who has made me cry THANK YOU tears ‘while’ getting briefings.
Trump just makes me WANT TO SCREAM.
But blessings for Cuomo —— and a big thank you to NEW YORK! I have fallen into Cuomo’s hands for ‘truth’ reporting.
My deep sympathy to
the many people who have died — and their families hurting from their loss.
Many thanks to the health workers and every employee- grocery stores- etc. who continue to put their lives at risk every day due to their essential jobs.
New York has had more than its share of devastating blows.
The storytelling in this book felt like a great tribute to the generations and generations of the courageous men and women in New York that refuse to be victimized.
There are already thousands of reviews of this book, so not sure what else I need to add other than I enjoyed it!!
It was easy to get wrapped up with the compelling characters — the descriptions—the early days of slavery, followed by ongoing chronological highlights of history.
The fiction characters felt like real people—most likable dealing with challenging life situations.
I became attached to a few of the characters, right away.
Rutherfurd added new characters delicately — allowing time to get get to know them.
We meet many diverse families [Multiculturalism at its best]...The Dutch, and their English heritage, Native Americans, Irish, German, Italian, German-Jewish, and Puerto Rican immigrants....from 1664 to 2011—ending with 9/11....
written from the perspective of the Dutch settlers.
We visit the wars: the American revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the wars between family members.
Incredibly ambitious and fabulously written....
a book worth spending time with.....
Honoring love for the great city of New York! -
The book begins in the 17th century with a tiny Indian fishing village on the forested island of Manna hata, with a Dutch family of Van Dyck and continues through next generations. It is a time, when Dutch traders arrive here to make their fortunes and giving the island a new name of New Amsterdam.
When English fight for the control of the colonies and take over the city, they rename it to New York. The English oppression and taxation makes them unpopular, which leads to rebellion. Sons of Liberty fight for their independence from England. Father and son of Van Dyck find themselves on opposite sides. One remains Loyalist, the other becomes Patriot.
When the immigrants are woven into the story, they add a lot of flavor, particularly Mary O’Donnell and her friend Gretchen Keller. Later Italian family of Caruso immigrates through Ellis Island to NYC, making their new home at Little Italy. The story is even further enriched with Jewish family of Adler.
The story touches upon history of American Revolution, Civil War, Draft Riots, as well as the American West and the Wall Street corruption.
As with all Edward Rutherfurd's historical novels, he brings wide range of characters, rich in historical events, presented with sharp prose and some intriguing situations. -
"People came here for freedom and, hard though the way up might be, they found it. To make it, you needed the work ethic."
"No matter how hard things were, New Yorkers never gave up."
This was a fascinating story that encompassed over 300 years. Starting in 1664 when present day New York City was a Dutch fort and trading post through 2009 as New Yorkers, and America, showed it's resilience following the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001. There are many stories that make up this novel. Each story is from a different chapter in the history of this magnificent city. When the Dutch and native American Indians lived and worked together. When the seeds of independence from Britain were planted and you were either a Patriot or a Loyalist. When the country was torn apart by the Civil War and brother fought brother. Just because New York is in the north did not mean that everyone was an abolitionist. Sometimes there were splits within families. There were many tragedies and disasters throughout it's history. There were also many triumphs and accomplishments. Throughout New Yorkers persevered.
This story centers mostly around the Master family who started as traders and later became bankers. They are the well to do. The blue bloods. The people with the money, nice houses, and everything that goes with their status. But this is just not about a well-to-do and successful family. New York is rich and culturally diverse. There are Italians, Irish, Germans, Jews, who came to New York. In this novel you read about some of these families who arrived at Ellis Island with little more than their clothing and who through hard work raised families and found success.
What makes New York great is the people. The people who came for freedom and because they never gave up and worked hard found it. -
I love this book. So much so that I wrote an article about it.
... The author managed to tell not only the historical story of the city but also conveys the changes in mood, attitude, and life for New Yorkers over the centuries. For example, the way the characters relate to each other during the Revolutionary War, such as the concern for the whole rather than the individual, is vastly different from how they interact at the close of the book during the summer of 2009 and as it should be. The only fault I have with the book is that the descendants of Quash the vanDyck's slave, Pale Feather, and Salvatore fell to the waste side in favor of the more traditional (and frankly easier to write) high society Master family. What became of Quash’s other descendants? Surely there could have been more to that side of the story than a tragic end during the NYC Draft Riots or Pale Feather’s family beyond the opening of the canal.
For the rest of the review, please visit CBS Local New York after 1/19/15 at
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/top-lists... . -
It was only my love for Edward Rutherfurd in general that kept me slogging through this book.
Sarum was the book that converted me to a Rutherfrudite; it's still one of my all-time favourites.
That book was clearly more personal than New York, because Rutherfurd gave it both a strong sense of time and place that kept me riveted. His characters were part of the fabric of their time and place, and the story was memorably strong.
New York, on the other hand, feels like a publisher's mandate to an author--"Keep up with the gimmick that makes us cash". There isn't much of a feel of the city in its old days. Sure, Rutherfurd tries to convince us (in the first 400 pages I think he mentions the 'gabled Dutch houses' about 50 times), but instead this book comes off like something that would happen if you did enough research into a place to fill your publisher's mandate but didn't actually care about it all that much.
The real problem, though, started for me about the time of the War for Independence and continued right on through to the end. There is an off-putting pedanticness about this book, with Rutherfurd feeling the need to lecture to his readers about American History. When he brings up things like Lincoln's proposed resettlement of the freed slaves there is an undertone of arrogance, as though the author is saying "Ha! Betcha ignoramouses in America didn't know THAT!!!"
I suppose if you are not a history buff, you won't feel as patronised as I did while reading this book. Then again, I suspect that a large share of his audience might be somewhat attuned to History, as that is the overarching theme of his works as a whole.
I wanted to like this more because of how much I like him as an author. But I found myself unable to be convinced by New York, let alone swept away. -
American history is not my strength and I’m always on the look-out for books that will hold my interest me in this area. This one was wonderful, historically accurate, and beautifully written. I lived in New York when I was in graduate school many years ago. I appreciated learning about places and events that I knew very little about. The book starts with the 1600s Dutch settlers and Native Americans and goes all the way to the early 2000s. As you can imagine, it’s a massive read. It was such a good read that I didn’t want it to end. That’s saying a lot for a book that’s well over 800 pages.
New Amsterdam was renamed New York on September 8, 1664, in honor of the then Duke of York.
The illustration below is an artist’s depiction of the stockade wall that would give its name to Wall Street.
Today tourists stand in the spot where the Wall once stood. Behind them is the bronze statue of George Washington in front of Federal Hall National Memorial.
Rutherfurd is an excellent writer. He wrote
Paris which I read a few years ago. He truly has a knack for making history come alive. You start rooting for various characters and truly caring for them. I plan to eventually read all his books. That’s how good of an author he is.
An encampment in New York City's Central Park, where many lived during the Great Depression.
Here are some quotes that I thought are worth sharing:
“Whatever you do, keep your family together. That’s the most important thing in the world.”
“If I had my life again, I’d act differently. It’s hard for a man if he thinks his wife doesn’t respect him.”
“Lincoln thinks slavery is wrong—that I don’t deny—but he went to war to preserve the Union. He made that perfectly clear. He has even said, in public: ‘If I could save the Union without freeing a single slave, I’d do it.’ His words. Not mine.” He paused. “What does Lincoln want for the slaves? Who knows? From what I hear, his main idea for liberated slaves is to find a free colony in Africa or Central America, and send them there. Do you know he actually told a delegation of black men, to their faces, that he doesn’t want Negroes in the United States?”
“I’d rather be the wife than the mistress.”
“You still have your marriage.”
“Marriage may not be a perfect state, but it is a protection, especially as we get older. And we are all getting older, my dear.”
“Many countries have accepted the Jews, … and always they have turned against them in the end. The Jews will only survive if they are strong. This is the lesson of history. … We were commanded to keep our faith. So let me tell you: every time a Jew marries out, we are weakened. Marry out, and in two, three generations, your family will not be Jewish. Maybe they will be safe, maybe not. But in the end, either way, all that we have will be lost.”
“I was reading Virginia Woolf the other day, and she remarked that at one period of her life, she was able to get so much done because she had three uninterrupted hours to work in every day. And I thought, what on earth is she talking about? Only three hours a day? And then I looked around the office at all the people working their fourteen-hour days, and I thought, how many of you actually spend three hours in real, creative, intellectual activity in a day? And I reckoned, probably not one.” She smiled. “And there’s Virginia Woolf achieving more than they ever will in their lives, on three hours a day. It makes you think. They might do better if they worked less.”
“You can do what you like, sir, but I'll tell you this. New York is the true capital of America. Every New Yorker knows it, and by God, we always shall.”
“All empires become arrogant. It is their nature.”
“She was quiet for a moment or two. Then she said: 'Cruel words are a terrible thing … Sometimes you regret them. But what's been said cannot be unsaid.” -
Read this book in 2009, and its a standalone book about the history of New York.
Situated between the years AD 1664 until 2009, and it will tell of a city with many expectations and tribulations.
From the foundation to this world city of New York of today, people of all walks of life are pictured as natural as possible with their highlights and downfalls.
From the Revolutionary War to the city's emergence as a financial giant towards the attack on September 11, all this events and more are superbly described by the author in his own impeccable fashion, and where all kinds of people come alive in a city where everything as possible.
Highly recommended, for this is a magnificent standalone novel about the history of New York, and that's why I like to call this amazing book: "A Brilliant New York"! -
I really enjoyed most of this book. It's for anyone who likes novels that provide great history along with fiction... this novel traces the history of New York... my problem is that he dropped the storyline for the African-American family story line without much ceremony as if African American families didn't have a role in modern New York.
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It’s no secret that Edward Rutherfurd is at the top of my list when it comes to favorite authors of historical fiction. I have been dying to read his latest New York since it first came out. I decided to wait, however, and put it on my book club reading list. Finally, the wait was over, and was it ever worth the wait!
In New York, Rutherfurd opens the novel in the year 1664, when the city was just a settlement called New Amsterdam. Like his other novels, the author takes a family or two, and carries their story forward in time. You follow them and watch how the historical events and the growth of the city affects them. In so doing, the reader has an opportunity to learn about history and, at the same time, is marvelously entertained with a sweeping, family saga.
I think this book is Rutherfurd’s best. He has a way of seamlessly including historical events in a way that does not seem contrived. Even if you already know the history, be prepared to be surprised. The author knows how to capture your interest and keep you with him through the entire 862 pages. Unlike some of his previous novels, the jumps in time aren’t nearly so great here. That’s a plus, because I never felt I had to give up a character or a storyline before I was ready.
I also really enjoyed the subject matter. Having lived in New York City for a number of years, I loved relearning some it’s history, and also being taught some things that I never knew about. My only complaint about the book was that it had to end. I really didn’t want it to. -
‘New York is the true capital of America.’
This novel begins, in 1664, with a tiny Indian village and Dutch traders. It ends in 2009 with an epilogue. In between, the journey through the generations of the fictional families Mr Rutherfurd has created traverses many of the major events in the history of both New York and America.
From New Amsterdam as a Dutch trading settlement, through the period of British colonisation, and the War of Independence, the creation of the American nation, and the Civil War: these were the parts of the novel that held my attention most closely. This novel is about the evolution of New York, and the various families, characters and historical figures are important because they illuminate places, issues and times. This is not a history of New York, and some inaccuracies may aggravate those who spot them.
While I enjoyed the novel, I found the characters less engaging towards the end. The earlier parts of the novel were well served by Mr Rutherfurd’s focus on the lives of families living through the historical events. By the end of the novel, the focus was almost entirely on one family and I found myself wondering about some of the others and the resolution of the issues they had been facing.
I think that this novel primarily depicts the historical development of New York from an economic and political perspective, and this makes sense when looking at a city over a period of nearly 350 years. An absorbing work of historical fiction: I’m glad I read it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith -
DE-Rezension unten
Another Rutherfurd novel I really enjoyed! Of course, it's not sophisticated literature, but Rutherfurd's concept is ideal for history nerds like myself, I love looking all kinds of things up and studying maps while reading enjoyable fiction.
Im frühen siebzehnten Jahrhundert gründen niederländische Siedler an der Südspitze der amerikanischen Insel Manna-Hatta eine Siedlung, die sie „Neu-Amsterdam“ nennen. Etwa 50 Jahre später haben sich Kaufleute dort niedergelassen und einen bescheidenen Wohlstand erwirtschaftet. An diesem Punkt setzt Rutherfurds Geschichte mit der ersten einiger fiktiven Familien ein, anhand derer er die Geschichte der späteren Metropole New York von den Anfängen bis zu den schrecklichen Ereignissen des 11. September 2001 erzählt.
Zugegeben, Edward Rutherfurds Bücher sind keine großartige Literatur. Für Geschichtsfreaks wie mich oder Fans der jeweiligen Städte oder Regionen ist sein Konzept jedoch genial – die Geschichte des Ortes wird verpackt in die Erlebnisse mehrerer Familien über zahlreiche Generationen hinweg erzählt. In kaum einen Roman erhält man so geballte Informationen und wird dabei noch bestens unterhalten. So bin ich Edward Rutherfurd seit meiner Jugend treu und lese alle seine Bücher.
„New York“ gehört zu den Werken, die mir besonders gut gefallen haben. Auch wenn ich kein USA-Fan bin, fasziniert mich doch die Geschichte des Landes. Ich war noch nie in New York, aber die Metropole ist aus TV-Bildern, Büchern und anderen Medien doch so vertraut, dass ihre Entstehungsgeschichte richtig spannend für mich war.
Ein Aspekt, der mir sehr gut gefallen hat, war, dass Rutherfurd viele Ereignisse schildert, die weniger bekannt sind und speziell New York betreffen. So wird zwar der Unabhängigkeitskrieg sehr ausführlich behandelt, weil New York hierfür auch ein wichtiger Schauplatz war, aber den Bürgerkrieg erlebt der Leser in dem Buch eher indirekt: Es werden keine der bekannten Schlachten thematisiert, sondern die Draft Riots von 1863, ein Aufstand gegen die Wehrpflicht, bei dem insbesondere Schwarzen nachgestellt wurde, die man für den Krieg verantwortlich machte. Ein weiteres Beispiel ist das verheerende Feuer in der Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, bei dem 146 Arbeiterinnen und Arbeiter ums Leben kam, unter anderem, weil Türen verschlossen waren, um Arbeiter am Müßiggang zu hindern. So bringt Rutherfurd auch viele soziale Themen ein, der Brand war unter anderem der Anlass für eine Verbesserung der Arbeitsbedingungen in den USA. Weitere Themen sind die High Society von New York, der einem Adelsstand gleichkam, sowie Antisemitismus.
Was mich ein wenig gestört hat, war, dass die Geschichte einiger Familien im Verlauf des Buchs abreißt und nicht mehr weiterverfolgt wird. Insbesondere der schwarzen Familie und den indianischen Nachfahren der ersten Hauptperson hätte mehr Raum gegeben werden können. Auch fand ich es schade, dass nicht wie in den anderen Büchern Rutherfurds ein Stammbaum der Familien angegeben war – zumindest nicht in meinem Arrow Books-Paperback.
Nichtsdestotrotz habe ich die Lektüre von „New York“ fast so genossen wie die von „London“ (aber nur fast!) Ich habe ständig in die Karten geschaut und bei Wikipedia vieles nachgelesen, Bücher, die mich auf diese Art und Weise fesseln, machen mir besonders viel Spaß. Und die letzten 120 Seiten musste ich in einem Rutsch lesen.
Nicht zuletzt hat Rutherfurd noch etwas geschafft: Zum ersten Mal sage auch ich: Ja, ich will New York irgendwann mal sehen. -
This massive book took me forever to read. I'd stop and read other things--for book club or pleasure--and then get back to it. But having said that, I have to say that I adored this book, especially learning all the fascinating history of the great city of New York while enjoying the lives of fictional characters. I will be visiting NYC for the first time next week and I think this book will have added so much to the experience.
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" В кой точно момент корупцията се превръща в порок? Трудно беше да се каже. Тя също имаше своите степени и в тях се криеше разковничето. "
Отдавна ме беше обзело желанието да прочета книга на англичанина Едуард Ръдърфърд. Имах при себе си ( и все още са на рафта ми ) The Rebels of Ireland и The Forest в оригинал. Но се надявах да видя някое интересно за мен заглавие на български език.И когато " Ню Йорк " - първи том - излезе по нашите книжарници и веднага се възползвах. За мен никога не е било толкова приятно да чета за исторически събития. Стилът на Едуард Ръдърфърд е завладяващ , такъв, който бихте слушали с удоволствие на лекции по история. Интелигентно, достъпно и интересно той описва исторически дати и събития, икономически закономерности и правни системи. Без патос и назидание, просто факти, облечени в образите на герои. Част от имената може да са измислени, но в обкръжението на реално съществуващи известни личности те намират своето място. Обясняват случвалото се от момента на създаването на Ню Йорк, преобразуваията и растежа на този град - легенда. Авторът използва метода на романизираната биография, подобно на Анри Троая и на Ейми Белдинг Браун ( неизвестна за българския читател, май ). Стил, който аз много харесвам! В него случки, дати, личности и места оживяват върху страниците и стават достоверни.
И тъй като " Ню Йорк " е предимно роман, както казва сам Едуард Ръдърфърд, героите му имат своя съдба, свои цели и свои предпочитания. Оформят бъдещето си спрямо случващото се около тях и в града им и играят роля в развитието на мегаполиса. Но онова, което не се променя нито в духа на Ню Йорк, нито в сърцата на онези, които живеят в него, е жаждата за независимост.
Нямам търпение да прочета втори том на книгата. За да разбера какво се случва след главата " Линкълн "? А може просто да науча в оригинала на Eduard Rutherfurd!
* " ... свободите в Новия свят са невъзможни в Стария. " -
Like Rutherfurd’s other novels, New York: A Novel is a massive book. It would require dedication and time to read – also patience – for the story begins in the 17 century, during the Dutch colonization, to the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001. That’s 3 ½ centuries of history. Still, in spite of its length, the story didn’t linger very long in some eras. The author highlighted the most historic and momentous events: the coming of the British, the war of independence, the financial rise of the city, the Depression, urban decay, and many others. Right in the middle of these events is the Master family that witnessed and survived the tumultuous changes of the centuries. Along with them are other families, old and new, that help shape the history of the city. It was fascinating to read about how the families merge, part, and merge yet again over the centuries, and in their connection Rutherfurd included historical people – the Morgans, the Astors, the Stuyvesants, the Roosevelts. It was quite educational to know also how geography, politics in old Europe and powerful and simple families make the city become the financial capital of the country, how it becomes the city we know it is now. Money and wealth, constant elements of the novel from start to finish, show how New York City has been and will always be a city of the great American Dream.
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Disappointing. Recommended by a friend whose taste I trust, but I couldn't finish it. John Masters is like an Early American Forrest Gump - not too bright and lots of famous people make cameo appearances in his life... Sam Adams, Ben Franklin, John Jay, etc. I stopped reading after about 250 pages and just skimmed bits to the end. I enjoyed Sarum and thought Rutherfurd was a good storyteller, but his writing seems really simplistic in New York and I was bored.
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Love all of ER books and all the research he puts into them...this one included! Hope he at some point will write about other major american cities. Any readers of his previous books will want to make sure and read this one. It starts in 1600's with the Dutch settlers and Native Americans and moves forward from there to around 2011. Well worth the time you put into reading the 850+ page novel.
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This book was a well written piece of historical fiction. I am looking forward to reading more of the author's works.
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This is my first book by Edward Rutherford and I listened to it as an audiobook.
The book starts in the 1600s with the native American Indians and Dutch settlers and moves through the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Gilded Age all the way through September 11th with the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. You follow several families through all these times and all the different generations.
It's quite amazing and I enjoyed the story greatly! -
I don't know how Edward Rutherfurd does the research to write these immense historical novels about different times and places. My first Rutherfurd novel was Sarum, which covered the entire history of England from the earliest Celts to the modern day. New York doesn't go back quite so far - only to the 1600s, and the beginnings of New York, but as with Sarum, it spans centuries of history by following the ups and downs of several families, who grow up in and with the city, sometimes leave and return, sometimes are very much aware of their ancient lineage and sometimes have no idea when they are speaking to someone whose ancestors did business with their ancestors right in this same city. You, the reader, become attached to the Van Dycks, the Masters, the Kellers and the O'Donnells, all weaving their way through history and being joined by newer families along the way. All of the "main characters" in the book are fictional, but they meet with real historical figures, and experience historical events.
It's a grand, sweeping epic, driven by the melodramas of individual characters. We know that the Revolutionary War is coming, and how it will end, just as we know about the Civil War, and World Wars I and II, and in the final chapters of the novel, 9/11. But our fictional families go through it all as it happens.
The central figures in New York, the ones who are present through every generation, are the Van Dycks and the Masters. Originally Dutch and Puritan arrivals in New York, respectively, they intermarry and become one of the wealthy "old money" families of the city. At one point they reckon themselves at the top of the social order, but as the 19th century ends, even though they are still wealthy, they are being eclipsed by the Morgans, the Duponts, the Rockefellers, and in the early 20th century, wars and depressions reduce them to "genteel" circumstances. Still rich (as another character puts it, "What a strange world in which becoming poor meant moving to an apartment on Park Avenue!"), but now just rich compared to the average New Yorker. As the family's fortunes continue to wax and wane, they continue to be affluent, but still looking up at the titanic fortunes of investment bankers and dot.com billionaires.
There are also Irish and Jewish and Italian immigrant families who join the story. And here and there reappears the descendant of an Indian mistress who began the novel. Perhaps most tragic is the story of the descendants of Quash, the African slave, whose line also persists down through many generations until it is tragically cut short. Some families make it to the 21st century, some don't...
There were no uninteresting chapters. Whether it was the Dutch/English rivalries in early Manhattan, the conflict between Patriots and Loyalists as New York weathers the American Revolution, the draft riots of the Civil War era, the Flapper and Speakeasy era, the collapse of the economy in the Great Depression, the changing times of the 50s and 60s, or the turn of the 21st century, every era of history was illustrated not by an infodump about the historical events, but by returning to our friends the Masters, the Adlers, the Kellers, the Carusos, and seeing how they are faring.
I really love these books, and intend to eventually read all of Rutherfurd's novels. He's written several about England and Ireland, one about Russia, another about Paris. This is his style, to create relatable characters and then write them and their generations of descendent into a dramatic history that will probably dump a few things you didn't actually know on you along the way. Highly recommended for any fans of historical dramas. -
Another thoroughly enchanting and engaging historical fiction by Edward Rutherford. A master of the "James Michener School" of long, exhaustively researched, examinations of important historical places, achieved by creating compelling narratives at crucial points along the historical timeline that bring to life for the reader the place and the events that make it matter.
Some years ago, I read Rutherford's "London" in the hope that it would enhance my enjoyment of a then planned visit to the great city, and I was rewarded beyond my wildest expectation. As a native New Yorker, I can say without hesitation, that anyone seeking to visit "The Big Apple" would do well to read this book first. Do not be put off by the length (860 pgs., incl. an epilogue, that surveys the history from New Amsterdam of 1664 - 2009,)because Rutherford is sucha magnificent storyteller, that you will be glad for the feeling that there is always a little more.
Finally I would point out that, though the book is clearly researched in depth, the author is not one of those who falls in love with their research to the detriment of the narrative flow. Moreover, Rutherford has an amazing ear for telling details that can only be gleaned from the most attentive reading and interviewing e.g. how could he know the importance of describing the layout of a Park Avenue Classic 6 apartment or even know about the "Wall St. gogo years" phenomenon (continuing to this day)of Bar/Bat Mitzvah extravaganza celebrations that often include Grucci-level fireworks displays and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? If you like a really yummy historical read, you won't be disappointed here. -
30 CDs. I think this is the longest audiobook I've ever listened to! I was trying to remember how long the Harry Potters were, but I think this one wins.
And, ohhhh, it was good. I love me a good epic, and Rutherfurd always delivers. This looooong adult novel covers the history of New York from the natives on Manhattan island to the fall of the World Trade Center. Several families are followed along the way, and the intertwining of them all makes the epic fascinating to follow. This kind of book is why readers like me score well on standardized tests--it's amazing how much a reader learns about history, the arts, political science, and just about everything else. The author is one heck of a storyteller. I loved his London, The Princes of Ireland, and Sarum, and I'll continue to read his new ones. I think he's a modern day Michener. -
INCREDIBLE. EPIC ENTERTAINMENT.
I’ve long loved the City of New York. I love it even more after reading Edward Rutherfurd’s excellent and comprehensive historical fiction, ‘New York: The Novel’.
It’s cliché to say of a particularly good book that you couldn’t put it down; and when you had to, you couldn’t wait to pick it up again. It’s cliché and, in the case of Rutherfurd’s enjoyable writing, it is absolutely true. He writes the most compelling and engaging characters that you simply want to know more about.
Recommendation: Read this superb epic novel (covering from 1664 to 2009), and enjoy.
“It was politics and religion […:] that made men dangerous. Trade made them wise.” (Pg. 53, .ePub Adobe Digital edition)
[nookEbook #5:] -
If you enjoy historical fiction you should read this book. If you enjoy New York you should read this book. If you enjoy both, you must read this book.
There’s already over 2,700 reviews and, as always with Goodreads, a diverse set of ratings and perspectives, however, I loved every aspect of this amazing saga.
The writing and storyline was so good I found myself saying longer than ever on the elliptical at the gym without checking the time or social media in order to keep up with the Master family through the generations as the world’s greatest city’s history unfolded. -
Fantastic; thoroughly enjoyed this book and made me want to go out and get his other ones. I love history and have had a fascination with New York since I was a little girl. The author weaves the stories of his fictional characters against the backdrop of all the major events in New York's past so easily, it's almost impossible to tell you're getting a history lesson at the same time. I will definitely be exploring Edward Rutherfurd's other books.
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Great book based on the history of New York. It's one big family saga from New Amsterdam to after 911. It is a long book (over 850 pages) but it's easy to read and very entertaining so it doesn't feel that long!
