East Side West Side

At a rummage sale I chanced upon this post-war novel set in Manhattan; my copy was published in 1947. What a little gem of a book. Davenport explores a narrow band of post-war social strata in New York and provides the reader with a rare and poignant glimpse into an aspect of society surely not missed in the freedoms of present day. Almost more satisfying than the struggles of the core characters - who in the span of a week see themselves anew, or are willing to see themselves for the first time - are the sense impressions provided in large doses of a New York City long forgotten, the sights and smells, the behavior patterns, the ways of life that have broken down and evolved over the past 50 years. If you love New York and its social history, you will truly enjoy this glimpse into its past.