Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

For those who have not previously come across Francis Spufford, he is an English non-fiction writer of rare talents. His formal job is to teach writing at Goldsmith's College, University of London. In 'Golden Hill' published by Faber & Faber in 2016, Francis has written a historical novel and in not just my opinion has written a masterpiece of the genre. It is one of those rare novels where reading it to the end to find out what happens takes priority over sleep, work, spouse etc. It has a real surprise in the ending and his evocation of New York in the 1740s seems entirely convincing, at least to me. Rather like Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, the novel has a strong presence of the voice of the author and narrator, but it is so skilfully done, it works.

Golden Hill

Yes, the ending made a lot of things suddenly make sense. Part of me wanted to reread it with that information, but I just hadn't enjoyed it enough to do that. It was a good book, but I didn't find it that enthralling. I guess that basically I just don't like authors holding out on me. I think the narration could have been done better. Having an external 'all-knowing' narrator who either is holding out or just as clue-less as everyone else gets on my nerves.

It looks like to me by looking at his listed books that this is the first work of fiction that he has written. I haven't read this or any of his other books but I note that his other books are rated fairly highly so he would not be the first author who had troubles with their first work of fiction, though as a non-fiction writer he had a lot of followers.

>2 MarthaJeanne: " I guess that basically I just don't like authors holding out on me. "

I don't like such authors either

Authors holding out on me = Suspense and mystery

>4 Chawton: I don't read those genres, or only when I have been promised some reason for reading the book in spite of the suspense/ mystery.

Golden Hill has today been shortlisted for the 2016 Costa Prize for the Best first novel. I think it should have been on the 2016 Costa Prize shortlist for Best Novel...

Postscript:

'Golden Hill' did go on to win the 2016 Costa award for 'Best First Novel'.

It was also in the running for the Costa overall prize for 'Best Novel' published in 2016.