I'm not sure you can find better history than what David McCullough writes. His research is so in depth and broad. It's no wonder his books are so big, because he packs them with the most interesting historical tidbits and facts. Who would think that reading about the engineering feats that created the Brooklyn Bridge would be so fascinating? McCullough is able to make the spinning of the great steel cables and the sinking of the huge caissons that hold up the two towers of the bridge as interesting as reading about the foibles of William Tweed and his Tammany Hall cronies. I never knew that so much controversy, hope, animosity, despair, stress, pride, etc. was involved in what would become one of the United States' great landmarks. Not only does McCullough write about the technical difficulties and triumphs involved in building the bridge, he also brings the cast of characters who contributed to the story come alive. Washington Roebling, the chief engineer, and his wife, Emily, are especially interesting as you follow their courtship and the sacrifices they make to complete the Great Bridge. My only complaint is that the book is so big. I don't know what facts he could have left out; but the last few chapters were a bit hard to stick with. Maybe I'm just not as into big books as I once was. Whatever, I do recommend this book to get insight into New York and Brooklyn after the Civil War and also to learn about how ingenious man can be. Now I wish I had actually crossed the bridge when I was in New York instead of just taken a picture.
Rating: 4.5
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David McCullough has a good reputation as a historical writer. I haven't yet read anything by him, but from your description of this particular book, this one sounds good. History is so fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my all-time favorite books. McCullough is great. I think I've read 5 or 6 of his books so far and I've loved every one. I've just recently read 'The Path Between the Seas,' which is about the Panama Canal. It was written right around the time he wrote the Great Bridge, I think.
ReplyDeleteI've read good things about this one before. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to mention that a few years ago I think PBS had an entire special on the Brooklyn Bridge. That's not a subject I'd ordinarily be interested in, but I got drawn right into the history of the bridge and the comments of a wide variety of people, some famous, about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, he's excellent at writing history. I read this one a few years ago and enjoyed it. It did get hard to stick with at times, because there's just so much. It was a fascinating story, though and was well worth the time investment to read.
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