This bestselling novel set in the ruthless world of Victorian commerce follows the fortunes of Adam Swann, a scion of an Army family and veteran of campaigns in the Crimea and in India, in his quest to found his own financial dynasty. His struggle to succeed and his conquest of Henrietta, the spirited daughter of a rich manufacturer, drive a richly woven tale that takes the reader from the dusty plains of India to the teeming slums of nineteenth-century London, from the chaos of the great industrial cities to the age of the peaceful certainties of the English countryside.
Favorite thing about the book?
I have a few friends who are very into the world of historical fiction by way of both writing or reading, so I wanted to jump on board and dive into the genre myself. Previously, I’ve been into a few historical novels like Confessions of Nat Turner and Sophie’s Choice and I’m happy to say that God is an Englishman had exactly what I look for–a strong sense of time and place. The book covers the eleven years between 1857 and 1866, a portion of the life of a British soldier in Victorian England. It’s a fascinating time period that probably receives far less recognition than it should. There’s the booming industrial revolution and the arrival of the railroad, rampant poverty, and the ruling British empire. While it feels like a distinctly British book, I find it hard to believe that the discerning American reader would fail to find some parallels in recent US History.
Ok, so you might think with historical fiction, time and place is sort of a given. That’s why I’ve got to mention the characters. There are a ton, but they each feel distinct and add humanity to a business-first period. I would venture to say that the side characters are much more enjoyable than the main character, Adam Swann, though.
What was most surprising about the book?
I’m not sure why but I was surprised that this was a family saga. A sort of family history within a national history.
Favorite Character?
Henrietta. She’s a breath of fresh air in a dense and complex story. I love that she comes up with the logo for Adam’s business–I find it unusually amusing that branding started so early in history.
Obligatory least favorite part of the book?
The length and density of the book is admittedly intimidating–not a lot of white space! Other than that, the pacing of the first half of the book is detailed and sometimes serves to drag the pacing.
After this book you felt…?
800-pages smarter.
Who would you recommend this book to?
The men in my life. My dad, my grandfather, etc. My history buff friends.
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