Weekly Reader: New York by Edward Rutherfurd; Another Epic Rutherfurd Success, But With Some Missed Opportunities

Weekly Reader: New York by Edward Rutherfurd; Another Epic Rutherfurd Success, But With Some Missed Opportunities

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews


PopSugar Reading Challenge: A book with the same name as a movie or TV show, but is unrelated to it (New York, New York)


Spoilers: I suppose after writing about Sarum, London, The Forest, Ireland, Russia, and would later write about Paris, Edward Rutherfurd decided to write about New York because he figured that if he could write about there, he could write about anywhere. (Apologies to John Kander and Fred Ebb for the paraphrase.)

New York is yet another of Rutherfurd's sprawling epics which cover the families of one location over the course of several centuries. This time, the English author takes his act on the road to the United States and New York. He does it with his usual grand style that captures these important historical moments, but makes it personal by showing us the individuals who exist in those turbulent fascinating times.


Rutherfurd deserves a lot of praise for writing an American city very well. He captures the various buroughs, streets, locations, accents, ethnicities, and the character of the city expertly. For example, he captures the various speech patterns of the characters without resorting to stereotypical dialect. He tells the points of view of people of various ethnicities and social status, as citizens, but maintains their individual struggles and personalities.
Rutherfurd captures New York so well, that it's easy to forget that he's not an American.

Once again he covers various families and reveals how they relate to the world around them. They are:


The Van Dycks/Masters-The European-American family traces their roots from Dutch lineage back when the territory was New Amsterdam. They eventually married with the English immigrant, Master family. They exemplify the old money families who are often in charge of the stock market, the big Fortune 500 companies, and names that are on guest lists of high society and philanthropic donations. They are present in every chapter from the beginning.

The Hudson/Rivers-The African-American family begin as slaves to the Van Dyck family. They are very prevelant before and during the Revolutionary War as the members argue over whether or not to aid the white Americans. They appear sporadically, but unfortunately their lineage is cut short during the 1863 Draft Riots when one of their members is lynched.

The Whites-A working class family that contrasts with the wealthier Masters. They have a long animosity towards the wealthy family. Their most important role is during the Revolutionary War when they are staunch Patriots and fight for the working class Americans. In subsequent chapters, they take on various occupations like police officers and fire fighters.

The Albions-A family of wealthy English expatriates. They appear mostly as a staunch Loyalist family during the Revolutionary War. Eventually, they return to England but maintain a friendship with the Masters.

The O'Donnells-An Irish-American family that emigrated to New York in the 1840's to escape the Irish potato famine. They begin in the impoverished area of Five Points and work mostly in service. Later, some of the family members gain prominence because of their involvement with Tammany Hall. The O'Donnells gain social success until by the late 20th century, one is an upwardly mobile attorney.

The Kellers-A family that emigrated from Germany in the mid-1800's and are close friends with the O'Donnells. They mostly work as tailors, artisans, and shopkeepers. Later family members develop creative talents, as one becomes a professional photographer and another becomes a caterer.

The Carusos-A family that emigrated from Italy through Ellis Island in 1901 (no relation to the opera singer). They eventually move to the Lower East Side. They experience various important moments from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911, to the creation of the Mafia (as one joins), and the construction of important buildings like the Empire State and the Chrysler Building. Like the O'Donnells, they too move upwards, as their final family member becomes a doctor.

The Adlers-A Conservative Jewish family from Flatbush, Brooklyn that appears in New York by 1955. They are mostly seen through the eyes of Sarah, their daughter, an art gallery owner. She gets involved with the Bohemian lifestyle and becomes more Liberal and secular and defies her family traditions..

The Campos-A Puerto Rican family that resides in El Barrio, Spanish Harlem. They appear in 1977, the final family in the book. Like the Adlers because they arrive so late, they are mostly seen through one character, Juan. Juan experiences the poverty of many black and Latino New Yorkers in the 1970's when the city is about to declare bankruptcy. He later becomes an advocate for the poor communities.

Because the book covers roughly four hundred years of history, a short time for a Rutherfurd book, Rutherfurd was able to write it similar to London. He inserted several characters into multiple chapters, so the Readers can see their experiences over many decades and see how they evolve with the times. The Revolutionary War doesn't happen until 11 chapters in. The 19th and 20th century cover 9 and 7 chapters respectively. It's a purposely slow moving process, but like London is the better for it.


Once again there are some excellent characters including:

Dirk Van Dyck-A Dutch immigrant trader in 17th century New Amsterdam, who has a loveless marriage but escapes from it to father a Lenape girl called Pale Feather. She makes the ongoing symbol that is passed from generation to generation, a wampum belt.

Quash-The first, and so far only, first person narrator of a Rutherfurd book. A slave, Quash recounts the transformation of New Amsterdam to New York and he eventually receives his freedom and becomes a shopkeeper.

John Master-One of the first in his family to carry the Master name. When New York is still considered a backwater location, he has a rocky meeting with his wealthier cultured Bostonian cousins (to show the difference between New York and Boston) and an unfortunate courtship. He then has a better marriage with Philadelphian Quaker, Mercy Brewster.

Charlie White-A working class man who was a childhood friend of John Master's only to be snubbed by his family. Later, he becomes a fervent Patriot who organizes protests and resistances against the British government.

James Master-Son of John who is educated in England and marries Vanessa, a well-to-do Englishwoman. Despite, or because of this, James becomes an outspoken Patriot. He leaves his wife and returns to New York. He then raises his son, Weston, as a single parent.

Hetty Master-Introduced in 1849, she is the wife of Frank Master, Weston's son. Despite her intense wealth, she is passionately involved in various social causes like abolition, women's suffrage, and labor unions.

Mary O'Donnell-The first of the O'Donnell family, she gets hired as a maid to the Masters. Later, she becomes Hetty's companion and best friend.

Theodore Keller-The youngest of the immigrant Keller family. By 1863, he becomes a photographer. He shows an artistic eye as he snaps portraits, graphic scenes of war, and landscapes. He becomes a well known artist after death.

Salvatore Caruso-The son of the Italian immigrant family, his sister is killed in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and his brother is killed working for the Mafia. He becomes a construction worker and is involved in a love triangle with his brother, Angelo and girlfriend, Teresa.

Rose Van Dyck Master-The female head of the Master family by the early 1900's. She is something of a name dropper, referring to her friend Mrs. Astor, and a snob. However, she has enough financial insight to save her family from the 1929 stock market crash.

Charlie Master-Rose's dilletante son, he becomes involved with the Village scene of the 1920's of artists, writers, and theater types. Later he becomes an aging hippy and becomes involved with a younger woman. He writes about that experience in a semiautobiographical novel, Verrazano Narrows.

Sarah Adler-The daughter of the Jewish family. She owns an art gallery and has very liberal values that put her at odds with her traditional family. She is the woman that has the affair with Charlie Master and inspires his novel.

Juan Campos-An idealistic Puerto Rican immigrant who becomes an advocate for the poor families of color. He begins in the 1970's when New York saw an increase in poverty, union struggles, and crime.

Gorham Master-An investment banker in the 1970's and '80's. While he has the family name and success, he wants more meaning to his life. Ultimately, he assists Juan with a foundation to help others.

Maggie O'Donnell-Gorham's wife, and Mary's descendant, a yuppie attroney. She is pleased to have it all, a good career, husband, and children.

As with Rutherfurd's other works, the characters are an engaging bunch. We see them encountering big issues like the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the creation of Niagara Falls and the Brooklyn Bridge, the Blizzard of 1888, New York's rise to being one of the largest and most important cities in the world, the Financial Panic of 1901, the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and September 11. So many important events are covered.

Rutherfurd also captures many personal moments for the characters. Frank's proposal to Hetty at the Croton Aqueduct produces fond memories even after they have friction in their marriage. Hetty later befriends Frank's mistress, Lily de Chantal and they conspire to overpower another mistress, Donna Clipp.

Mary lies about her family's connection to Tammany Hall to work as a maid for the Master family. By the time the truth comes out, decades later, Hetty is just grateful to have a long time friend.

One of Theodore Keller's photographs is named, Hudson River. Not because of the River, but because he captures Hudson River, the characters,' death. This photograph ends up being his most popular and infamous.

While Salvatore is working on the Empire States Building, he is so incensed by Angelo and Teresa's affair, that he contemplates killing him. A lucky accident spares his life and he becomes a devoted uncle and godfather.

Gorham Master spends many years feeling unfulfilled by his life of gain. He consults headhunters and weighs other opportunities before finally doing something positive with his wealth by aiding Juan Campos.

The final recipient of the Master family wampum belt is none of the Masters, but Sarah Adler as a gift from her lover, Charlie Master. She wears it when she is trapped inside the World Trade Center just as it is attacked and she is killed.

There are however plenty of missed opportunities. The most important is probably the too early departure of the African-American family, the Rivers. For the first time in Rutherfurd's books, we get a first person account with Quash. He reports of the change from New Amsterdam to New York and the English encroachment on the island of Manhattan. He also talks about his marriage to Naomi, his love for his son, Hudson and his friendly relationship with Dirk, his master who promises to free him on his deathbed. Hudson is eventually sold to a ship captain, but Quash obtains his freedom and opens a store. With that strong beginning and a first person departure from the other books, one would expect Quash's family to be prominent from beginning to end.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. During the Revolutionary War, Quash's son, Hudson raises concerns when his son, Solomon, joins the Sons of Liberty. Once Solomon's son, Hudson is sold, the family does not reappear, until they escape through the Underground Railroad. Then as I said earlier, their final descendant Hudson River is lynched and hanged during the Draft Riots of 1863.

That's it. It is great that Rutherfurd opens up this shameful period in America's past and telling it through a family that suffered through it. However, they should have continued in later chapters. The Rivers could have been actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, the Harlem Renaissance, redlining, and the Great Migration. Heck, a later Rivers descendant could have been a fellow activist alongside Juan Campos. Many events and perspectives are lost when the Rivers's story ends prematurely.

The Rivers aren't the only ones. It's clear that while the book is another Rutherfurd ensemble, the main family involved is the Masters. They are present in every chapter and get the lion's share of points of view. This leaves a lot of families out of key events.

The White's introduction is very powerful and the book appears that to reveal another multi-generational family feud ala The Wilsons Vs. Shockleys in Sarum. Unfortunately, the White family takes a diminished role after the Revolutionary War and only receives minor appearances in later chapters. The Whites, as well as the Rivers, are the only families to not reappear in the final chapters that focus on 9/11.

Rutherfurd reveals the various immigrant families that make up New York, showing how America is made up of different people. It shows that we all come from somewhere else. Unfortunately, many of these immigrant families are spread out, some taking more prominent roles than others. The O'Donnells, Kellers, and Carusos have strong introductuons but by the mid-20th century, they disappear only to reappear for the finale. There are a few missteps where we could have seen more sons and daughters.

The book also leaves out some key events. The most important events that are short changed are The Great Depression and WWII. The book skips from 1929 to 1955. It seems odd that a book that chronicles the American experience so faithfully would leave these out. We don't get to see how poverty and joblessness affected the families in question. We don't get to see their opinions about the New Deal and their feelings towards Franklin D. Roosevelt (and he's a New Yorker at that. Seriously they left him out?).

We don't get to have the characters experience Pearl Harbor or see the male characters enlist. Nor do we experience the female characters working (many outside the home for the first time.). One of the families is Jewish and they don't even touch on the Holocaust or reveal that one of the Adlers is a survivor. Rutherfurd could have easily introduced two more chapters to cover these events. That he didn't is a real shame.

While the book has some missed opportunities, New York is another wonderful experience in time travel thanks to Rutherfurd. Reading about the people of New York and the way that has changed over the centuries, fills the Reader with a sense of pride in the city and how well Rutherfurd caught it.

Classics Corner: London by Edward Rutherfurd; Epic Novel of London is Superior to Rutherfurd's Sarum in Every Way

Classics Corner: London by Edward Rutherfurd; Epic Novel of London's History is Superior to Rutherfurd's Sarum in Every Way

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

PopSugar Reading Challenge: A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics (London)




Spoilers: In my mind, there is only one name in epic historical fiction, the type of fiction that is set over the centuries set in the same location with various generations, usually within the same family. That name is Edward Rutherfurd.

Beginning with Sarum, published in 1985, Rutherfurd wrote a series of novels set in various locations that cover five to seven families that represent different social classes. The books include Sarum, The Forest, London, The Princes of Dublin, The Rebels of Dublin, Russka, Paris, and New York. In each one, he covers an exthaustive series of historical events that are seen through multiple pairs of eyes.

Sarum begins the formula with its epic scope and is brilliant at capturing the various time periods and details. However, the characterization isn't as strong as it could be. While the family aspects are strong, many characters are flat and interchangeable. They are less of individuals and more symbols of their social status, gender, class, occupations, and placement in their family lines.


However in his 1997 follow up novel, London, Rutherfurd obviously learned from his mistakes on characterization and wrote not only an epic story, but filled it with characters who are just as interesting on their own right as they are as members of their families and in a society reacting to the ever changing times.

Of course the biggest character is London itself. Rutherfurd captures every district, every street, every business bringing them to vibrant life as though the Reader can see the buildings, hear the many accents, and smell the various odors right in front of them.

London is experienced in its various incarnations from an out of the way backwater in Celtic times, to one of the final bastions of the Roman empire, to a central area of conflict during the Medieval Era, to the go-to destination for those seeking their fortune during the Renaissance, to the central location of the British Empire, to a place under attack during WWII, to a modern cosmopolitan city welcoming various immigrants, all who consider themselves Londoners.


These changing and dramatic times are witnessed by eight families. They are:

The Duckets/Doggets-They are present in every chapter from the Celtic days, originating as Duckets, to modern times. The name came from their ancestor's ability to swim like a duck. Many of the members are recognized by their black hair with a white streak near their forehead and webbing between their fingers (possibly a holdover from evolution.) Eventually, they split into two different families: The Duckets, who ascended into wealthy titled nobles and The Doggets, an impoverished family that remains primarily in the poorer sections, particularly London's East End.


The Bulls-The second most prominent family, making their debut during the Anglo Saxon era. They are a family that goes between wealthy landowners to members of the merchant class as brewers. Their name comes from the family living near a sign of the bull. Many of the family members are known for their stubborn uncompromising view of the world as black or white, right or wrong with no in between.


The Silversleeves-A family that came over with the Norman conquest, their name comes from the fancy robe one of the earliest ancestors wore. They are recognizable by their long noses, which some are rather sensitive about. They are a family of conniving schemers who climb their way to the top and in subsequent chapters act as various authority figures.


The Barnikels-This family is descended from the Vikings. The last name comes from their Viking ancestor who warned his subordinates not to kill children during the raids (bairn nikel=no children). The Viking blood is still present in subsequent generations by their large sizes, bad tempers, and seafaring abilities in which many become sailors, fishers, and members of the British Navy.


The Carpenters-A largely working class family that debuts during the early Medieval Era. Their family name is one of the occupational names that are so frequent. Many of the members help build some of the most iconic sites in London including St. Paul's Cathedral and Hampton Court. They are also a very religious and opinionated family, particularly during the English Civil War when they are ardent Puritans and during WWII when another is a member of the Fabian Society.


The Flemings-This family emigrated from Flanders during the late Medieval Era. They are known for the high standards that they set towards the people around them. They are also among the most mutable families in the book having different occupations that fit whatever the current needs are. They go from grocers, to costumers, to bakers, to tailors and other necessary occupations.


The Merediths-They emigrated from Wales during the Tudor era. They are known for their eloquence and intelligence which is put to good use as writers, preachers, and academics. They also have very adventurous spirits which gives them the opportunity to travel and live colorful lives.


The Pennys-The youngest of the families arrived from France around the time of the London Fire. Protestant Hugenots, they sought religious freedom and are often very strident and devout in their beliefs. They also have very mathematical and analytical minds which they reveal in their occupations in mathematics, banking, and engineering.

The families are well written as a unit, but also the individual characters within that unit. Considering Rutherfurd wrote over 100 chatacters and over 2,000 years of history, it cannot be stressed what a fantastic achievement that is. With Sarum, he took the easy way out to make his characters sketches, ideals, and just symbols of who they represent. In London, he made them real characters with motives, goals, and personalities that go beyond their expected roles.

Many characters stand out but among them are: Julius, ancestor of the Ducket Family, a scamp from Roman times who forges coins to get ahead, romances pretty girls, and hoards gold for his future. In fact his hiding of gold gets him in big trouble with the authorities and himself when he loses his gold and can't remember where he put it. (The gold becomes a continuing plot thread, until it is finally found by Julius' descendant, Charlie Dogget during WWII).

There is Henri Silversleeves, an emigre from Norman-era France who like his father is an adept chess player and uses those skills in life against everyone else. He is a skilled tactician who isn't afraid to play everyone around him from allies, to family members, to his unfaithful wife, Hilda. During conflicts between members of the Royal family and various factions, Henri skillfully observes, schemes, and takes years to play his hand but ultimately comes out ahead.

Edmund Meredith is a playwright of questionable talent during the Elizabethan era, who loves two things: Jane Fleming, a costumer for Shakespeare's acting company,@ and the sound of applause geared towards him and not necessarily in that order. When Jane gets abducted by pirate, Orlando "Black" Barnikel (an interesting character in his own right), Edmund settles for the applause. He becomes a well spoken minister who plays both sides during the English Civil War.

Another outstanding male character is Sam Dogget, a young Cockney lad in the 18th century who in a Dickensian twist gets mistaken for a wealthy heir and is adopted by the family of the Earl of St. James and Lord Bocton (also known as the Ducket family). Sam settles into the rich life and lives as an Earl until old age. In one moving scene, a confused and addled elderly Sam wanders through East End London remembering his former upbringing and speaking fluent Cockney.

The female characters are also equally well written. There are several standouts. Among them is Elfgiva, matriarch of the future Bull family, who is desperate to hold onto her pagan beliefs despite her husband and sons converting to Christianity. She stands firm to her beliefs despite her husband, Cerdic's emotional abuse and threats to put her away for a younger wife. Eventually, she converts, but by her own choice no one else's.

A pair of fun protagonists are Isobel and Margery Dogget, twins and the first to carry the surname of Dogget, to separate themselves from the wealthier Duckets. The duo are prostitutes and brothel madams, 13th century hookers with hearts of gold. They aid a pair of young lovers who are separated by family disapproval and imprisonment and get the better of a hypocritical alderman.

Then there's Dame Barnikel, who could be a second cousin to Chaucer's Wife of Bath. She has a few marriages under her belt and is busy arranging the marriage, and practically the life, of her stepdaughter, Amy Fleming. Dame Barnikel is also a hard-nosed businesswoman, singlehandedly running her husband's brewery and is a member of the Brewer's Guild. Guild membership is not an easy feat for many women to achieve, but those who know Dame Barnikel's abrasive and domineering personality would be fools to refuse.

Another standout female is Violet Bull. She causes trouble first by marrying Col. Meredith, an older man who once caught her mother, Mary Anne's fancy. In middle age, she joins the women's suffrage movement and takes part in their demonstrations like throwing bricks into windows, disrupting the horse races, and picketing. Violet stands for her beliefs, despite ostracism from her father and son.


One of the ways that Rutherfurd makes his characters more well rounded is to insert them in more than one chapter. In Sarum, he devoted one chapter to each era so we barely got to know the characters before we say goodbye to them and get introduced to a new set of characters. Rutherfurd's approach in London is a lot slower. He stretches characters's storylines out so we see them in different ages and how decades of change affected them.

Nowhere is this approach strongest than in the sad story of Lucy Dogget. Her story begins in 1822 in East End London. As a child, she loses her father to a workplace accident and her mother and brother to illness. She finds temporary work with her Uncle Silas as a dredger, someone who scavanges the Thames River for goods, refuge, and corpses to steal from. Silas eventually lets her go to start a new career, leaving Lucy on her own. Her story continues into young womanhood when she faces an illegitimate pregnancy and no money to care for her child. It concludes in old age as she makes the heartbreaking decision to give up her orphaned granddaughter to enter into service and obtain a better life for herself.

Another interesting approach that Rutherfurd does is ultimately tie all the families together through marriage, employment, and friendship. While there are some signs of this in early chapters where a Fleming girl marries a Carpenter boy or a Penny works for Meredith, the families are particularly united through the 19th century marriages of the Dogget Sisters, the daughters of Lucy's crafty Uncle Silas. Harriet marries Penny, who is extraordinarily gifted in numbers and money put to use as a banker. Esther marries Arnold Silversleeves,who is fascinated by machinery and becomes an engineer. Charlotte marries Captain Jonas Barnikel, a sea captain who participates in boat races. Mary Anne, the most opinionated and adventurous of the four sisters marries Edward Bull, a brewer who takes his wife on a hot air balloon ride as a gift.

The ties tangle even further when Esther Silversleeves hires Lucy Dogget's granddaughter, Jenny as a maid and Jenny later marries Percy Fleming, a tailor and as previously mentioned Mary Anne's daughter, Violet marries Col. Richard Meredith (whom her mother contemplated an affair with when they were younger).

By the time the book ends, it almost seems incestuous how tight these family ties become. However, since they are separated by generations, there are no causes for alarm when modern day archaeology grad, Sarah Bull begins a romance with British Museum curator, Dr. John Dogget. It is more seen as a sign of fate, like some people are destined to be together. It's in their blood and genes.

The best word to describe Edward Rutherfurd's London is epic. Epic in scope. Epic in history. Epic in character. Epic in setting. It is the right kind of history lesson, the kind that gives us faces and people to go with the dates and events.