I have found a great new book titled, Hey Day, by Kurt Anderson. It is a novel that takes place in the Nineteenth Century, depicting the modern life of that culture. The novel’s time frame runs from April 1848-Late 1850. The story line evolves around four characters: Ben Knowles- an aristocrat from England bound for New York City, looking to carve out a life for him-self independent from the watchful eye of his father. Then there is Duff Lucking, a volunteer New York fireman haunted by his experience during the Mexican War. The third character portrayed is Polly Lucking (Duff’s sister and Ben’s love interest) is a part-time prostitute, full-time aspiring actress, and sketch artist who longs for a life of adventure. And last, but not least, is Skaggs, a freelance newspaper journalist and amateur photographer in New York City.Their stories weave through the French Revolution in Paris journeying across the expanse of America to the California Territory to the Gold Rush. The story is surrounds the passion and colorful lives of these nineteenth century characters painting the New America in a new light. You follow their hopes and dreams, plus to spice up the plot you have a murderer tailing these four young adventurers, whom are unknowledgeable, in that they are being pursued by a murderer. Why is the murderer following them? You’ll have to check out the book to find out.
