Written in a stylish language of a time long ago, when New York was a tiny city in pre-colonial America, this book is fun and informative, a character study of a unknown man who comes to town and stirs up the sleepy populace.
The book is a character study of Mr. Smith, who arrives in New York in 1746 with a check for $1,000 pounds, and demands payment. But he refuses to talk about who he is, why he is there, and why he is owed the money.The Londoner soon becomes part of the life of the city, ingratiating himself with the prosperous and powerful. Indeed, he even tries to court Tabitha Lovell, the cagey daughter of the family whom he comes to to pay him the money.
Tabitha is a wonderful character in a book filled with them. She is a woman before her time, a feminist in colonial dress. Mr. Smith at one point suggests that may be the reason for her aggressive manner. You bite because you are caged, he tells her. She responds, "What if I am the kind of dog who bites because it pleases her?"
The books is filled with such dialogue. It is filled with great descriptions of time and place.
And in the end, it does wrap up the story, which is always a plus. The epilogue explains it all.
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