Golden Hill

Short Review: The longer I think about Golden Hill the more I like it. On the surface it is deceptively simple. A fairly basic plot with two very well written and fascinating plot twists right at the end.

Spufford knows how to write and he knows how to write in a way that it makes the writing look easy. It is obviously from the start that you are reading a book that is intended to feel like it is in the 18th century. But the brilliance is in the way it doesn't make it difficult to read as a 21st century reader.

I want to read it again, knowing the plot twists from the beginning to see what I may have missed.

The basic plot is simple. In 1746 New York City, a traveler comes to town with a letter of credit for 1000 pounds, an extraordinarily large sum of money. He is cultured and refined and apparently rich. But he is not sharing his plans, which raises the level of intrigue. Who is he and what is he going to do. New York City at the time is not it modern world changing status. It is a small city, 1/100th the size of the London at the time. It is a relatively new and untamed city, but also a character of the story.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/golden-hill/

If you are reading this in January 2018 and you read Kindle books, this is on sale for the month of January for $1.99.