He is an author capable of making any topic, however unlikely, at once fascinating and amusing. Throughout golden hill, spufford creates vivid, painterly scenes of street and salon life, yet one never feels as though a historical detail has been inserted just because he knew about it. Golden hill book by francis spufford official publisher. Francis spuffords first novel is a swashbuckling tale the. The spectacular first novel from acclaimed nonfiction author francis spufford follows the adventures of a mysterious young man in mideighteenth century manhatt. A crackerjack novel of old manhattan the new yorker. The washington post the spectacular first novel from acclaimed nonfiction author francis spufford follows the adventures of a mysterious young man in mideighteenth century manhattan, thirty years before the american revolution. Cj sansom francis spufford has long been one of my favourite writers of nonfiction.
A novel of old new york is a swashbuckling debut novel by british author, francis spufford. Golden hill book by francis spufford official publisher page. Jun 17, 2016 this is a book born of patience, of knowledge accrued and distilled over decades, a style honed by practice. Another great book nearly wrecked by reader i wont elaborate too much. After more than 20 years dealing with nonfiction subjects as diverse as polar exploration, the soviet economy and childrens literature, francis spufford has written a novel. Research picaresque novels and decide if golden hill fits into the traditions of the genre. Englishman richard smith arrives in the small colonial town of. Golden hill is a meticulously crafted and brilliantly written novel that is both an affectionate homage to the 18th century novel and a taut and thoughtful tale. Unapologetic, has been translated into three languages. Mar 12, 2020 golden hill possesses a fluency and immediacy, a feast of the sensesi love this book. Golden hill, francis spufford girl with her head in.
The new yorker the intoxicating effect of golden hill is much more than an experiment in form. Jan 22, 2017 golden hill by francis spufford golden hill by francis spufford any book with its lowest book club score in the sevens and highest from four members of the club in the eights must have something going for it. Englishman richard smith arrives in the small colonial town of newyork from london. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. You can probably tell what ive been reading from that sentence. Golden hill wears its research with incredible insouciance and grace. Golden hill is a terrific debut historical novel, set in. Smiths new york city by finding maps of manhattan and the surrounding region from the early 1800s. One evening, a handsome young stranger off the boat from england pitches up to a counting house on golden hill street, with a compelling proposition he has an order for 1,000 pounds in his. June 27, 2017 this sparkling first novel sends a young man through a gantlet of troubles and amusements in 18thcentury manhattan. Set in 1746, it tells of a young mans adventuring in new york, a city then of just 7,000 people.
A novel of old new york francis spufford, 2017 scribner 320 pp. Golden hill is a homage to the actionpacked works of 18thcentury masters like sterne, smollett and fielding but with spufford s nimble fingers on fast forward, speeding along character. Locate streets and landmarks mentioned in golden hill. Francis spufford s charming historical novel, golden hill, is set at that time, three decades before the american revolution. Golden hill the first novel by francis spufford, previously acclaimed for intensely original nonfiction works on subjects as diverse as antarctica, childhood reading, british boffins and. Golden hill possesses a fluency and immediacy, a feast of the senses. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dec 17, 2016 golden hill by francis spufford, 9780571225200, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. It is recipient of the costa first novel award, the ondaatje prize and the desmond elliott prize. Richard smith, fresh off the boat, a man with a knack for.
Francis spuffords fiction debut is a fastpaced romp, but it keeps its eyes on the moral conundrums of america. Sep 29, 2016 buy golden hill main by spufford, francis, spufford, francis isbn. New york, a small town on the tip of manhattan island, 1746. I really liked francis spufford s book, golden hill, but to endure hours of the relentlessly colorless voice of limited expressive range plus the readers droning tempo was a very large price to pay to complete this reading. Within minutes of deboarding from the brig henrietta in new york harbor, anno domini 1746, richard smith seems to attract trouble. Jul 14, 2017 golden hill is a homage to the actionpacked works of 18thcentury masters like sterne, smollett and fielding but with spuffords nimble fingers on fast forward, speeding along character. Read it for spuffords brilliant storytelling, pitchperfect ear for dialogue, and gift for recreating a vanished time new york newsday. Francis spuffords first novel, golden hill, which is set in new york in. Francis spufford has long been one of my favourite writers of nonfiction. That last book, although substantially factual, spliced fiction into the. Reading guide for golden hill by francis spufford bookbrowse. Scribner, 2017 the novel opens on november 1st, 1746. Buy golden hill main by spufford, francis, spufford, francis isbn. He is the son of the late social historian professor margaret spufford 19352014 and the late economic historian professor peter spufford 19342017.
Golden hill possesses a fluency and immediacy, a feast of the sensesi love this book. The english writer francis spufford has long been a bit of a cult figure. Golden hill by francis spufford the washington post. From the first page, i felt as if i were encountering a story that could have been written during the period in which it is setnew york in 1746. About the author francis spufford is the awardwinning author of several books, including the child that books built, golden hill, and unapologetic. In spuffords acknowledgments he describes the book as a colonial counterpart to joseph andrews or david simple, the novels by henry and. Golden hill by francis spufford, 9780571225200, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. He studied english literature at trinity hall, cambridge, gaining a ba in 1985. Golden hill by francis spufford nook book ebook barnes.
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