By Edward Rutherfurd
Doubleday | 880pgs
Release Date: November 10, 2009

Bestselling historical novelist, Edward Rutherfurd, weaves the compelling strands of The Big Apple’s rich history into a fascinating multi-generational tale. The story follows several families, from different ethnic and economic backgrounds, through the years as their fates intertwine to become part of the tapestry of New York’s history. New York: The Novel spans more than three centuries, beginning in the 1600′s with the Native American and Dutch settlements, leading into the bloody conflicts of the Revolutionary and Civil wars, followed by the explosion of the Industrial revolution and the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Rutherfurd details New York’s development as a financial center, and its rapid population growth due to massive waves of immigrants looking for a better life in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s. Readers experience New York’s rocky ride in the 20th century, with the stress of World War II and the financial recession of the ’70′s, as well as its economic and cultural resurgence in the ’90′s. The tragic events of 9/11 and the collapse of the World Trade Center bring the novel to a close.

Rutherfurd’s previous books, London: The Novel and The Rebels of Ireland: The Dublin Saga have reached the best sellers list, and anyone with a love of history with find New York: The Novel meticulously researched and incredibly interesting. Early reviews have been positive, though some critics have taken issue with Rutherfurd’s writing style, finding it awkward and cliché. Kirkus Reviews concludes the book: “A mixed bag, with effective plotting hampered by clunky writing.” Whatever its flaws, New York: The Novel tells a poignant, at times tragic, story of one of the world’s most loved cities.