Audiobook (abridged)6 hours
The Gods of Newport
Written by John Jakes
Narrated by Edward Herrmann
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
3/5
()
About this audiobook
In the late nineteenth century, Newport, Rhode Island, was a cauldron of money, excess, and unapologetic greed, where reputations were made and lost in a whirlwind of parties and fancied slights. But amid the glamour of yacht races, tennis matches, and costume balls raged undeclared class warfare, scandalous doings, even madness.
In 1893, railroad mogul Sam Driver, one of the few surviving robber barons of the lawless years after the Civil War, knocks on the door of fabled Newport with his daughter, Jenny, determined not to be turned away. In the past, his "new money" was tainted by his rapacious reputation, and even now, an enemy with a pedigree of wealth and position vows to slam every door in Sam's face. But he is determined to win a place in the strange rarefied world of Newport's brief summer season, presided over by social gadflies Ward McAllister and the androgynous Harry Lehr, both of whom will assist the Drivers...for a price.
The Gods of Newport brings this gilded age of excess to thrilling life. It was a time and place whose extremes of greed, conspicuous consumption, and social striving have an astonishing resonance and relevance for the America we see around us today.
In 1893, railroad mogul Sam Driver, one of the few surviving robber barons of the lawless years after the Civil War, knocks on the door of fabled Newport with his daughter, Jenny, determined not to be turned away. In the past, his "new money" was tainted by his rapacious reputation, and even now, an enemy with a pedigree of wealth and position vows to slam every door in Sam's face. But he is determined to win a place in the strange rarefied world of Newport's brief summer season, presided over by social gadflies Ward McAllister and the androgynous Harry Lehr, both of whom will assist the Drivers...for a price.
The Gods of Newport brings this gilded age of excess to thrilling life. It was a time and place whose extremes of greed, conspicuous consumption, and social striving have an astonishing resonance and relevance for the America we see around us today.
Author
John Jakes
John Jakes is the bestselling author of Charleston, the eight-volume Kent Family Chronicles, The North and South Trilogy, On Secret Service, California Gold, Homeland, and American Dreams. Descended from a soldier of the Virginia Continental Line who fought in the American Revolution, Jakes is one of today's most distinguished authors of historical fiction. He lives in South Carolina and Florida.
More audiobooks from John Jakes
California Gold: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Charleston Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gods of Newport Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Savannah {or} a Gift for Mr. Lincoln Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to The Gods of Newport
Related audiobooks
Hamilton's Choice: A Gripping Novel of America's Foremost Founding Father Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Second Generation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Legacy Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Cavendon Women: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Ravenscar Dynasty: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Girl from Snowy River (The Matilda Saga, #2) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dear George, Dear Mary: A Novel of George Washington's First Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Calico Palace Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Great Shame: And the Triumph of the Irish in the English-Speaking World Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Last Train From Cuernavaca Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Winemaker's Daughter Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Ruth's Journey: The Authorized Novel of Mammy from Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Establishment Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Canaan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Handsome Road Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Immigrants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The List Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reliance, Illinois Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Belle Cora: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This Side of Glory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLadies First: 40 Daring American Women Who Were Second to None Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummer at the Lake Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hamilton Affair: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Harvest Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jackie Kennedy Onassis: The Widow Of Camelot Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn American Marriage: The Untold Story of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Traitor's Wife: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Immigrant's Daughter Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ballad of Frankie Silver Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Benedict Canyon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Historical Fiction For You
All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Quiet on the Western Front Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Neon Gods Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5And Then There Were None Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dragon Teeth: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outlander Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Weyward: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lady Tan's Circle of Women Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crooked House Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Clan of the Cave Bear Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Golem and the Jinni: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Apothecary: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Reformatory: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tom Lake: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The House of Eve Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The House Is on Fire Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alice Network: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Huntress: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nineteen Steps: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Schindler's List Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rose Code: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5That Bonesetter Woman: the new feelgood novel from the author of The Smallest Man Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rules of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Let Us Descend: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The River We Remember: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Yellow Wife: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for The Gods of Newport
Rating: 3.125 out of 5 stars
3/5
8 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5After reading the North & South trilogy, I expected more from this story. It was a cheesy romance novel with a predicable story line and ending.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Life among the rich and famous. Filled with lust, love and deceit.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not his best. Predictable ending. Expected more, but I will pass it on to my reading friends.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5John Jakes is a touted master of American historical fiction. He presents stories of various communities and cultures in North America, mixing real and fictitious persons and relying on well done research to set scenes of authentic lifestyles. Jakes tells the story of a self-made wealthy man, Sam Driver, and his daughter Jenny as they try to break into the very structured and snobby summer society of Newport Rhode Island. The summer set is 'ruled' by grande dames such as the famous Mrs. Astor, Mrs. Vanderbuilt, and others who kowtow to Mrs. A's rules about what is proper, what is forbidden, who is acceptable and who is not. By introducing a love interest from the wrong class, Prince Molloy, an Irishman who works at the tennis Casino, and who falls for Jenny, we are exposed to life at all levels of society.As Jenny and Sam try to ingratiate themselves with this group, Prince tries to win Jenny. There are many scenes of violence, back-stabbing, cheating, bribing, whoring, sailing, horse racing, and other instances of life in the late 1800's that paint a clear picture of what Newport was like both for the very rich, and those whose life was to serve the very rich.NO spoilers, but there is a rather corny ending that will disappoint some, and be enchanting for others. All in all it was a pleasant read. Having lived several years in Newport, (my first apartment was actually on Bellevue Ave!) I found the descriptions of the town and the opulent 'cottages' a wonderful stroll down memory lane.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This was the story of Sam Driver and his daughter Jenny. Sam was a railroad baron who worked his way to being a millionaire at the turn of the century and ten set out to get his daughter accepted in polite society in Newport.I thought this book would be a little bit better because John Jakes is known for his historical novels, but the characters were stereotypical and the story predictable.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Badly written, badly read.