Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

[story3girl]

This novel tells the story of a young man who arrives in colonial New York from London with a mysterious bill to be paid and a secret. He tries to ingratiate himself to the local people and has a series of problematic interactions. It is surprisingly charming and clever.

[Jonathan Mark]

The novel is beautifully written and captures the atmosphere of New York in the early days when immigrants were arriving from Europe. It was highly acclaimed by the critics but it is a difficult read. A literary novel not a fast paced thriller.

[Irene C]

Golden Hill is absolutely brilliant. It's a vivid portrayal of specifically mid-18th century Manhattan, actually, a particular era when the settlement had been in English/British hands for 80 years and had been Dutch for the forty years prior to that. One blurb on it dubs it, "The best 18th century novel since the 18th century," and Spufford really does write in the particular style of Richardson and other inventors of the novel form.
I make a point of saying that it is from the particular era it is because there is comparatively little historical fiction set in 18th century colonial America -- most fiction from the British colonies is set earlier, in the 17th century, when things are much more raw.
In addition to the protagonist, the character of Tabitha Lovell is very sharply drawn. Read it for her and for Smith.

[story3girl]

I agree! I actually think they Tabitha is the most interesting character, and the twist in the epilogue casts an even more interesting light in her portrayal.