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City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan (Hardcover)

by Beverly Swerling (Author) "ELEVEN WEEKS IN a ship thirty-seven feet long by eleven wide, carrying a crew of nine as well as twenty passengers ..." (more)

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Hardcover: 592 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Sep 18 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0684871726
ISBN-13: 978-0684871721
Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.5 x 4.3 cm
Shipping Weight: 908 g

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #1,113,445 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

The tapestry of early American society is hung out for a fresh viewing in this ambitious historical novel of 1660s New Amsterdam. The English Turners are brother and sister, surgeon/barber and apothecary. Devoted to one another, Sally and Lucas quickly learn to make their way in the harsh, prosperous new world, aiding the Dutch governor Stuyvesant's family and making their reputation in the bargain. Then Lucas sells Sally in marriage to Jacob Van der Vries, a cruel, foolish physician, in order to save her life, Lucas says, but she believes it is to buy his lover's freedom to marry, and she never forgives him. This rift begins a feud between the Van der Vries (later Devreys) and Turners that lasts through the American Revolution. Colorful characters vie with historical figures for attention on this broad stage: there's Jennet, Sally's great-granddaughter, who marries a wealthy Jew; Caleb Devrey, Jennet's first cousin, who loved her as a boy, but becomes her bitterest enemy; Morgan, Jennet's son, a privateer and patriot; and Morgan's best friend and former slave, Cuffy, whose fate is bound to Morgan's by love, hate and the same woman the gorgeous Roisin Campbell aka Mistress Healsall. The healing profession is carried down through each generation of Turners and Devreys, and Swerling's descriptions of early operations with crude instruments are detailed and riveting. The city of New York is a character in its own right, but even it cannot compete with the richly drawn, well-rounded people Swerling creates. This engrossing, generously imagined tale deserves the large audience it should find at a time when the founding fathers reign triumphant in biography. (Oct.) Forecast: The size of this hefty debut may actually be a selling point, since it promises an epic tale. The colorful period jacket art should appeal to browsers, too.

From AudioFile

Beginning in Nieuw Amsterdam ( Southern Manhattan) in 1661, this mutigenerational saga runs right through the American Revolution. A brilliant surgeon named Lucas and his homely poppy-growing sister, Sally, come together to the New World and struggle agains the superstitions of their times. These gifted healers are thrown in with black slaves, lusty Jews, and even murdering Indians. Gabrielle de Cuir doesn't alter her voice dramatically for the different characters, but her breathless telling hits exactly the right note. Chock-full of convincing detail, this historical soap opera informs as it entertains. This can't be how they lived, though, anymore than we live on the set of "As the World Turns." B.H.C. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
ELEVEN WEEKS IN a ship thirty-seven feet long by eleven wide, carrying a crew of nine as well as twenty passengers. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

37 Reviews

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (37 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Dream historical novel, Mar 22 2008

By	chaim klein "Teacher and eclectic reader" (thornhill, ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan (Paperback)

I have been hooked on reading historical fiction for over 50 years. Cue for Treason, The Black Arrow, the entire Thomas B. Costain canon and many others have given me years of pleasurable reading. However, after finishing the Sharon Kay Penman ouvre in the mid 1990's, I found most new historical fiction enjoyable but not wholly original, much of it series material ( Sharp et al and genre fiction placed in non-contemporary time frames), mostly overshadowed by the kind of material that I had revelled in for so many years. When I wandered into a local bookstore and caught a glimpse of City of Glory, the sequal to this book, my bookseller hastened to warn me that the City of Dreams should be read prior to the City of Glory. He then stated that City of Dreams was a "candy of a read". My vendor is not given to hyperbole, I purchased this book in Feb. 2008, have completed it and its sequal City of Glory ( not as good) and am now reading Shadowbrook, her novel on the French-Indian War, an outstanding book on a topic I have enjoyed since reading some of Kenneth Rogers' books on this topic. City of Dreams is a great read with some original charchters, including some strong women. If you like historical fiction, this book deserves a place on your night-table stack

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4.0 out of 5 stars History in a readable, informative and entertaining form., May 18 2004

By	Betty Burks "Betty Burks" (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews

This historical novel takes the reader on a tour of the construction of New York City from the earliest 'paths' to avenues. It's mystifying to see our theater district called The Broad Way.

Written by Beverly Swerling in a scholarly fashion in easy to read prose and based on extensive research in various historical collections available, it shows how life was not easy for those involved. She uncovered the 18th century 'world of wonders' preserved in a fragile condition, used actual records of the first hospital in New Amsterdam, and -- in the modern sense -- used research obtained on the Internet.

An old Native American belief: The old prevent the young from straying off the path of wisdom. The young yearn after the path of dreams. Between the two there is truth.

CITY OF DREAMS is a stirring saga of early Manhattan and the beginnings of medical science in this country. It follows several generations of the Turner Family (and their slaves), all involved in different forms of health care. Especially interesting is the way cocaine was used as a healing aid, similar to the way marijuana was touted to work some years ago. And the manner in which seaweed was used by the young Irish healer was something else. The romance between her and Morgan Turner, the pirate/rebel spy, was reminiscent of Rosemary Rogers' first impressionable novel about another Morgan, Steve, and Ginny -- way back in 1977.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Superb reading.Could not put it down!, Mar 29 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan (Paperback)

This is a very good historical fiction,that gets you hooked from the very first pages.If you are at all interested in "Medical stuff".You are in for some interesting if also ghastly procedures.Many operations was just performed with out any anaestethics...The history of "New Amsterdam/New York is also very well written.The characters in the book was believable,and i felt sad when the book ended.I hope Miss Swerling will write more books ,she obviously did her research ,with this book,Read it!

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars History in a readable, informative, and entertaining form.
This historical novel takes the reader on a tour of the construction of New York City from the earliest 'paths' to avenues. Read more

Published on Mar 10 2004 by Betty Burks

4.0 out of 5 stars Brillant historical novel, but too bad about the story
City of Dreams is a brilliantly researched and written novel that introduces us to the creation and history of Nieuw Amsterdam and Manhattan. Read more

Published on Feb 26 2004 by Book Smart

4.0 out of 5 stars City of Corruption in Epic Proportions
City of Dreams is an epic novel beginning with Lucas and Sally Turner, brother and sister, who come to the New World. Read more

Published on Jan 1 2004 by Jamie J. Bourgeois

5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down!
I will truthfully say I bought this book at a dollar store. But I could not put it down. I would gladly pay full price to own this book. Read more

Published on Jan 1 2004 by Susan L.