Is it possible to tell a coherent, meaningful story that maintains the reader's interest throughout four centuries of history? Edward Rutherfurd accomplishes this daunting task yet again by tracing the descendants of some of the early settlers of New York (the van Dyck family, the Masters family and the family of Quash the slave), dropping them into the settlement of early Manhattan by the Indians and New Amsterdam by the Dutch. Spanning the English takeover, the War of Independence, the Civil War, the Great Depression, the World Wars and even the events of 9/11, Rutherfurd entwines momentous events with the thoughts and actions of fictional characters as well as prominent historical figures.
The synopsis for the book New York reveals that Rutherfurd worked closely with historians to ensure the legitimacy of the background information for this novel. The ability to connect with historical events is one of the key reasons that I, as a reader, enjoy this genre so much. Learning about the world we live in and the events that shaped it, is not only educational but appealing as well. The fact that this is a fictional tale interspersed with a bit of history distinguishes it from the sometimes dry textbook or research format.
Coinciding with "The Big Apple's" 400th anniversary, New York is in line to become an epic novel alongside classics such as Roots, Gone With the Wind and War and Peace.
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