NYBROOKLYN-L Archives

From: "Barbara Kiersh" <>
Subject: great historical NY fiction
Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 18:25:40 -0500

Hi All,

This may not be strictly on topic, but of great background and
historical interest. I'm reading the third book in a series (already
read the first 2) by Troy Soos. His books take place in 1890s New York,
and the research he's done as to places and events is impeccable. While
all action takes place mostly in the seedier environs of the day (the
Lower East Side and the Bowery), you can just hear the crowds in the
streets, the peddlers crying their wares, the horse carriages clopping
by, and smell the noxious mix of foods and fluids that were dumped into
the streets. The politics of the day were corrupt and unscrupulous
(Tammany Hall reigned). In the third book, "Burning Bridges", there's a
campaign to consolidate the City of Brooklyn, and the other independent
cities (Queens and the Bronx) with Manhattan. Consolidation was hotly
contested by interests on both sides of the issue - pro and con. It
looks like the pros won.

I'm thoroughly enjoying these books and learning some history too.
Hope you do too.

Barbara in Jacksonville

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