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Ghost Town: Tales of Manhattan Then and Now
One of our most celebrated writers tackles one of our most celebrated cities.
In the newest addition to the Writer in the City series, acclaimed novelist Patrick McGrath presents three stories about New York City spanning three centuries. “The Year of the Gibbet” tells the tale of a young boy during the American Revolution, whose mother is hanged for defying the British a...more
In the newest addition to the Writer in the City series, acclaimed novelist Patrick McGrath presents three stories about New York City spanning three centuries. “The Year of the Gibbet” tells the tale of a young boy during the American Revolution, whose mother is hanged for defying the British a...more
Hardcover
Published
September 6th 2005
by Bloomsbury USA
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‘All my life I have lived in New York.’
Three short stories in this book: different time periods, different events. Each story has its own ‘ghosts’, all are set in New York.
In ‘The Year of the Gibbet’, a man is haunted by the memory of his mother standing under a gibbet with a rope around her neck. It is the American War of Independence and, as she has defied the British forces occupying New York, she must pay. Fifty years later, and about to die himself, her son still feels guilty for his inadve...more
Three short stories in this book: different time periods, different events. Each story has its own ‘ghosts’, all are set in New York.
In ‘The Year of the Gibbet’, a man is haunted by the memory of his mother standing under a gibbet with a rope around her neck. It is the American War of Independence and, as she has defied the British forces occupying New York, she must pay. Fifty years later, and about to die himself, her son still feels guilty for his inadve...more
This is a small one, not sure why it took so long to read. Think I dragged my feet a little.
Thing one: these aren't ghost stories. I thought they were kinda gonna be, but it's ok. Ghostly, though. They're foremost historical fiction (a pretty superb ingredient for ghost stories, but oh well), and very enthusiastic ones. Lots of street names, neighborhood. One I used to live in, so well-appreciated. From the earliest story: "Like my mother I am loath to flee the town at the first sign of trouble....more
Thing one: these aren't ghost stories. I thought they were kinda gonna be, but it's ok. Ghostly, though. They're foremost historical fiction (a pretty superb ingredient for ghost stories, but oh well), and very enthusiastic ones. Lots of street names, neighborhood. One I used to live in, so well-appreciated. From the earliest story: "Like my mother I am loath to flee the town at the first sign of trouble....more
Se posso consigliarvi, non iniziate a leggere McGrath da questo libro; è bello, per carità.. Ma sono tre racconti e nonostante la sua bravura, l'autore non riesce ad esprimersi al meglio.. Questo libro può essere gustato e apprezzato dopo aver letto i suoi romanzi, "Follia" e "Grottesco " prima di tutti.
Detto ciò, torniamo a noi! :D
Protagonista indiscussa di due dei tre racconti è senza ombra di dubbio New York, da cui poi anche il titolo della raccolta. E' una New York presa in esame a diversi...more
Detto ciò, torniamo a noi! :D
Protagonista indiscussa di due dei tre racconti è senza ombra di dubbio New York, da cui poi anche il titolo della raccolta. E' una New York presa in esame a diversi...more
I'm excited to have found Patrick McGrath. He's a brilliant story teller. All three of these novellas are packed with suspense, character, emotion, action and a dash of the horrofic all executed with dextrous economy. I loved all three but the last one "Ground Zero" still has me shuffling its pieces around in my head. I was anticipating the book to be ghost stories. Instead it's a book about being haunted. Much more effective. Can't wait to read more of his work!
A trio of stories - the first one, alas, is slight and bogged down by a surfeit of historical details that diffuse its focus. The second tale is solid, even if it does revisit familiar territory and doesn't quite resonate as intended - it's close but ultimately refuses to take off. The third is where the book truly comes alive - the narrative voice is masterful, McGrath close to the peak of his powers.
There are three stories in this book, but I only read the first one. It was due back at the library and I didn't feel the first story was good enough to merit me renewing it to read the other two. It was set in revolutionary Manhattan, which sounds interesting, but not enough history was put in there for me to feel the author really knew what the area was like at the time.
I read this collection of short stories twice through without a break. the writing is exceptional: sharp and clear and uses a subtle change in voicel; the tales promise to hover on the edges of consciousness for days. This is haunting story-telling in just about all senses.
Only been to NYC twice in my long life, but I loved this book. These three short stories absorbed me for all of one afternoon. Now I will be looking for McGrath's novels and more of his shorts.
An excellent book of three tales set in New York. Beautifully written these gothic stories chart the life of New York from struggles for independence to post 9/11 anxieties. I highly recommend it.
this is the book which is talked about nine ane ane.
I think everyone will love this book very much.
Don't scared!It doesn't talk about about ghost.
I think everyone will love this book very much.
Don't scared!It doesn't talk about about ghost.
Covers three distinct periods of New York City while not skimping on McGrath hallmarks: psychology, memory, family, and the rich subtext dwelling between the narrator's recounting and the actual events.
Quando parliamo della New York post-11 settembre non si può fare a meno di imbattersi in mostri sacri della modernità letteraria, uno per tutti De Lillo. Poi però, accanto al non-plus-ultra che fa tanto moda & chic citare sempre, troviamo approcci più classici, meno "spettacolari"; quasi come osservare lo stesso mondo, che l'industria culturale si affretta a celebrare in primis sul mercato, da una nicchia appartata e con sguardo impacciato, quasi timido...
http://ghettodeilettori.blogspot.co...more
http://ghettodeilettori.blogspot.co...more
This book of three short stories took a really innovative approach to 9/11: it began in the early 1800s with the loss of a mother in colonial America (terror of the British), moved through the late 1800s/early 1900s with the loss of a lover (terror of new money in America), and ended up at Ground Zero with all of its terrors. It was really a really interesting approach to the topic of terror in New York.
This was a surprising treat. Just saw it, oddly enough, in a cool book store in Berkeley and was intrigued. Three novellas set in new york, dealing with loss and tragedy-the ghosts we carry from events, relationships etc.. The three stories bring to life a NY during the american revolution, the city during the mid-1800s and NYC on/after Sept.11th. A quick but fulfilling read.
Short stories about Manhattan at various times in history. I liked the historical setting, and the descriptions of how beautiful the area was before it was over-developed. The stories themselves were OK, but not too memorable.
I read this volume when I heard that my friend Isaac might have McGrath as a writing teacher. Of the three stories, "Julian" is the standout. Fascinating characters and a good 19th-century Henry James-type story.
Great for the NYC lover. Should read in conjunction with Michael Cunningham's "Specimen Days"
3 short stories.
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Patrick McGrath was born on 7th February, 1950 in London and grew up near Broadmoor Hospital where his father was Medical Superintendent. He was educated at Stonyhurst College. He is a British novelist whose work has been categorized as gothic fiction. He is married to actress Maria Aitken and lives in New York City.
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