Golden Hill by Francis Spufford {Book Review}

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The Book:

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

Published:

June 2016

PTH Rating:

Review:

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford is alternatively hilarious and heartbreaking. This story of New York City before it was a city will suck you right in! We follow the story of William Smith as he steps off a ship from the old world onto Manhattan island. He is a man of mystery who charms his way into the hearts of New York's inhabitants almost against their will.

We learn about Smith bit by bit as he struggles to make sense of the town of New York. Throughout it all, the reader is left wondering why Smith is there, whether there is any sense to his actions, and whether he could b any more charming. 

A few of my favorite lines from Golden Hill, which is written in the style of the period:

>“For what soul, to whom the world still is relatively new, does not feel the sensible excitement, the faster breath of expansion of hope, where every alley may yet contain an adventure, every door be back'd by danger, or by pleasure, or by bliss?”

>“When the winter takes hold we all huddle in each other's pockets.”

>“He laid his white right hand tidily atop his white left hand, on the tabletop. Smith smiled appreciatively, but still declined to come out to play. Septimus tapped the toe of his shoe on the floor. Tap-tap-tap: a foot tutting.”

As you can see, this book is full of wit, but also a whole bunch of sentimentality that hit me right in the feels. I highly recommend it to any fan of historical fiction, especially someone who enjoys a little bit of quirkiness in their novels.