New York (2009) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

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• Dirk Van Dyck: A Dutch trader who is married to a Dutch woman named Margaretha De Groot, but has an illegitimate daughter by an Algonquin woman (deceased before the start of the novel).
• Pale Feather: Dirk van Dyck's illegitimate child, who is half-Algonquin. She is named for her relatively pale skin, owing to her Dutch father. Her mother is deceased prior to the start of the novel.
• Margaretha van Groot: Wife of Dirk van Dyck.
• Peter Stuyvesant: Governor of New Amsterdam
• Theodore Master: Add a description of this character.
• Quash: A slave of the van Dyck family.
• John Master: Wealthy merchant in New York City during the 1770s and beyond. A loyalist to the English crown, but is tolerant of his son James, who is a Patriot.
• Theodore Keller: Photographer during the Civil War.
• Salvatore Caruso: Child of Italian immigrants.
• William Master
• Gorham Master
• Charlie White: Childhood friend of John Master, but when they grow up, John is among the wealthy class of New York and Charlie is a poorer laborer.
• Solomon: Son of Hudson Jr., named after the Biblical Solomon, because he was wise and rich.
• James Master: Son of John Master
• Abigail Master: Daughter of John Master; takes on the responsibility of raising her nephew Weston Master in his parents' absence.
• Weston Master: Son of James Master and his wife, Vanessa. Largely raised by his aunt Abigail Master. Grows up to attend Harvard and oversee construction of the Erie Canal.
• Mary O'Donnell: Irish woman working as a servant for the family of Frank and Hettie Master.
• Hudson Sr.: Son of Quash, slave of the Van Dyck family.
• Gretchen Keller: German girl; friend of Mary O'Donnell. Her father owns a successful chocolate shop.
• Frank Master: Son of Weston Master; grandson of James Master.
• Angelo Caruso: Son of Italian immigrants. Youngest boy in his family, often labeled "a dreamer."
• Sean O'Donnell: Brother of Mary O'Donnell, an Irishman with a bad reputation for criminal activity. His sister nicknames him "the devil." Saloon owner and friend of Tamany Hall.
• Hetty Master: Wife of Frank Master, who urges him to take a chance on hiring the Irish Mary O'Donnell as the family maid. Has a strong interest in social justice and abolition. Her husband barely tolerates her political views.
• William Master: Son of Tom Master, becomes a banker who deals in trusts. Married to Rose Master.
• Sarah Master: Daughter of John Master.
• Anna Caruso: Eldest daughter of Italian immigrants who works with her mother, taking in piecework at home.
• Luigi Caruso: Known as "Uncle Luigi," an Italian immigrant.
• Rose Master: Wife of William Master. Enjoys being married into a family with old money.
• Tom Master: Son of Frank and Hetty Master, becomes an investment banker.
• Abraham Lincoln: 16th president of the United States
• Benjamin Franklin: Author and statesman. In this story, an acquaintance of the Master family.
• Paddy Nolan: Saloon owner; friend of Sean O'Donnell. Sean introduces him to his sister Mary, and they date for a while.
• Hudson Jr.: So of Hudson Sr., grandson of Quash. Hudson Jr. is a free black man but works as a paid servant to the Master family. He is married to Ruth (nee Cleopatra) and has children Solomon and Hannah.
• Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon (Viscount Cornbury): Cousin of Queen Anne of England; Governor of New York and New Jersey between 1701 and 1708, and is perhaps best known for the claims of his cross-dressing while in office.
• Lily de Chantal: Opera singer
• Ann Trow, aka Madam Restell: Famous abortionist in New York City; helps Hetty Master when she is in danger during the riot.

Quotes edit see section history

• “New York is the true capital of America. Every New Yorker knows it, and by God, we always shall.”

  James Master

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• “Let us have faith that Right is Might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

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• “The British are angry. When people are angry, any insult will do; and prejudice is magnified into a cause.”

  Highlighted by 86 Kindle customers

• Manna hata: it was an Indian name. So far as he knew, it just meant “the Island.”

  Highlighted by 80 Kindle customers

• The coast of north-eastern America might have been colonized for the Atlantic fishing trade, but the great harbor of New Amsterdam and its big North River were settled because of the felt hat.

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• It was politics and religion, in van Dyck’s private view, that made men dangerous. Trade made them wise.

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• Henry Hudson had been an Englishman, employed by the rival Dutch, to find a shorter route to China by sailing east.

  Highlighted by 58 Kindle customers

• “Put your trust in trade,” he liked to say. “Kingdoms may rise and fall, but trade goes on forever.”

  Highlighted by 55 Kindle customers

• Hats. Everyone wanted a felt hat, though only the richer souls could afford one. It was the height of fashion. The hatters who made them sometimes went mad, poisoned by the mercury that used to separate the felt from the fur.

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• The blow fell in 1685. The news broke over New York like a thunderclap. King Charles II was dead and his brother the Duke of York was king in his place. King James II, the Catholic.

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• “All empires become arrogant. It is their nature.”

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Organizations edit see section history

• Sons of Liberty: Add a description of this organization.
• Black Panthers

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• coxcomb: a conceited, foolish dandy; pretentious fop
• howitzer: A relatively short cannon that delivers shells at a medium muzzle velocity, usually by a high trajectory
• toff: A member of the upper classes, especially one who is elegantly dressed

Errata edit see section history

Page 423 states that Grant defeated Lee at Gettysburg. At the time, Grant was quite busy at Vicksburg MS.
In the chapter Niagara 1825, Weston Master tells his son Frank that Lake Ontario is higher than Lake Erie. In reality the opposite is true: the Niagara river flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and creates the Falls

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Edward Rutherfurd (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Birgitte Brix (Translator)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PR6068 .U88 N49 2009
• Dewey: 823.914

Notes for Parents edit see section history

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Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › British › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Family Saga
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Edward Rutherfurd: Author's official website.

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Books Cited by This Book edit see section history