Hosack's Folly

In Hosack's Folly, Wood intersperses beautiful poetic passages with the excitement of a historical thriller. The novel tells an American tale of political corruption, romance, and the desire to do right by the people. With the threat of yellow fever and dwindling sources of clean water, old New York faces a public crisis. Renowned but scandal-ridden doctor David Hosack and his young protege, Albert Dash, strive to protect public health by exposing the corrupt politicians who would cover up the threat. The novel includes unexpected treats in things like the description of one of the characters' (Virginia's) childhood bed curtain. Details thus illuminated bring everyday objects to life and place the reader squarely in the time period, all the while maintaining the page-turning fast pace of the plot. These descriptive passages also lend the novel a poetic feel so that readers feel they've not only experienced the era, but have experienced some of its forgotten beauty. I give the novel four stars instead of five only because the promise of the author shows through but does not feel entirely realized. I know I am eagerly awaiting a second novel from this lifetime scholar and secret poet.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick paced historical novel. It is 1820's in Manhattan and there is the threat of yellow fever .Dr. Hosack, founder of Bellevue hospital and Columbia Medical school, has predicted an epidemic during the summer. However there is much talk about the increasing lack of drinkable water in the city. Powerful businessmen and corrupt politicians attempt to avert the public's eye from the imminent threat of the fever for their own gains, not allowing the port to be closed and quarantined. There is also a visionary with designs for an aqueduct and a powerful newspaperman who shares that vision. There is some intricate plotting against Hosack and he must rely on his assistant, Dr. Albert Dash to uncover the schemes and alert the public to the truth. There are romantic interludes among the younger characters in the story but also some well-detailed and enlightening historical detail. I think this debut novel would be an interesting read for many and also a good choice as a book club book. The historical information is so well infused in the story that you don't even realize how much you are learning about this time period. I would recommend this book as a good, page turning read.