Golden Hill by Francis Spufford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’ve enjoyed several of Spufford’s books (I May Be Some Time and Unapologetic and now Golden Hill, though all for different reasons. What each share is Spufford’s energetic prose, wit, and adventurous spirit.
To those qualities, Golden Hill adds on a dose of early colonial American currency, social practices, old Dutch New-York names (Breuckelen, anyone?), and all the myriad details that bring a city to life. But the novel is Smith’s story. A man of mystery, Smith arrives on a mission and manages to keep it a secret from everyone (including the reader) till the very end. What unfolds is a classic picaresque that feels a bit like a modern man dressed in colonial garb. Which I appreciated! The language may be dated, but the sensibilities are pretty current. And rather even-handed in its treatment of American sentiments toward England in a pre-Revolutionary War moment.
An enjoyable, quick read, and funny throughout.