Book review - Golden Hill, Francis Spufford
★★★★
Golden Hill is Francis Spufford’s first novel, and a recipient of a couple of important prizes. In it we travel to a pretty small (c. 6000 inhabitants) 18th century New-York (more like Manhattan) in tow of Mr. Smith, a mysterious British arrival in possession of a bill of exchange that entitles him to the considerable sum of £1,000, to be honoured in the following 60 days by local merchant Mr. Lowell. Along its pages, we get a glimpse at the life of the cities upper and lower castes, the infighting amongst the elites and the ups and downs in fortune that Mr. Smith experiences in his dealings with the natives, the most interesting of which are Mr. Lovell’s daughter Tabitha, and intelligent, semi-independent and bitter character who languishes inside her golden cage and who becomes the Beatrice to Mr. Smith’s Benedick, or Septimus Oakeshott, unlikely friend to the protagonist and enigmatic subordinate to the colonial governor.
So much for the plot, which mixes mystery, historical and period references and homage, some salaciousness, the staging of a play and a tad of romance. But beyond the story, which is well researched and better crafted, there is a delightful use of language: even if it is a first novel, the author shows himself a virtuoso in story-threading, period depiction and wordsmithing .While this if enjoyable, entertaining and immersive, I can imagine some readers might find it a tad heavy and slow-going, but the novel's blend of mystery, historical detail, and romance keeps the reader engaged.
What sets Golden Hill apart is Spufford's virtuosity in language and style. His narrative persona, imbued with snarky humor and 18th-century wit, adds a layer of entertainment and depth to the story, with remarks that wouldn’t be amiss in a Tristram Shandy, and that can be quite funny at times. The humor and lightness, though, contrasts quite effectively with the progressive seriousness of the narration’s events and underlying enigma. Overall, a very entertaining and well-written novel which you will probably be entertained by. And you will learn a few things about 1740s New-York by the wayside.