Overview

"Set in Boston at the end of the First World War, bestselling author Dennis Lehane's extraordinary eighth novel unflinchingly captures the political and social unrest of a nation caught at the crossroads where past meets future. Filled with a cast of richly drawn, unforgettable characters, ""The Given Day"" tells the story of two families--one black, one white--swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, Brahmins and ordinary citizens, all engaged in a battle for survival and power. Coursing through the pivotal events of a turbulent epoch, it explores the crippling violence and irrepressible exuberance of a country at war with, and in the thrall of, itself."

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Reviews

This may be Lehane's finest work. . . . But The Given Day is more than a history lesson. . . . Lehane captures the essence of being American in a fast-changing society that eerily reflects our own. --USA Today

[A] work of admirable ambition and scope. . . . Lehane is as much like contemporaries George Pelecanos and Richard Price as he is like the bygone Boston-based John P. Marquand, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. --Los Angeles Times Book Review [Lehane] deserves to be included among the most interesting and accomplished American novelists of any genre or category. . . . A powerful moment in history, and Lehane makes the most of it. . . . Heartfelt and moving. --Washington Post Book World A brawling, brawny, muscular epic--exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. --Lee Child A gripping historical novel. . . . Infused with the same dark drama that set apart his earlier books. --Parade A historical epic that is easily the most ambitious work of Dennis Lehane's career. . . . THE GIVEN DAY aspires to be nothing less than the Great American Novel. . . . If Lehane was ever a singles hitter, now he's swinging for the fences. --Kirkus Reviews A splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction. . . . A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries serious moral gravity. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) As much a thriller as any of Lehane's previous work. Even beyond the historical events, THE GIVEN DAY qualifies as a sprawling, sweeping epic. . . . Lehane's masterful packing and precise prose make the story speed by. --Orlando Sentinel Brilliantly constructed. . . . Like E. L. Doctorow in Ragtime, Lehane captures the sense of a country coming of age, vividly dramatizing how the conflicting emotions and tortured dreams that drive individual human lives also send a nation roiling forward. --Booklist (starred review) Gut-wrenching force. . . . A majestic, fiery epic. . . . The Given Day is a huge, impassioned, intensively researched book that brings history alive. --New York Times Here's one way to get people excited about the nation's past: Get Dennis Lehane to write the history books. . . . A meticulously researched tale that in the hands of this master storyteller jumps right off the page and hollers. --St. Petersburg Times If you're swinging for the fences, it only makes sense that your novel begin with a lengthy, and very tasty, story about Babe Ruth. That Dennis Lehane sustains that level of play . . . is what gives THE GIVEN DAY a kind of greatness. . . . Lehane dazzles. --Chicago Sun-Times Lehane's first historical novel is a clear winner. . . . As good as it gets. --Library Journal (starred review) One of the fall's biggest books--and not just because it's 704 pages. It's Lehane's most ambitious and literary work. --USA Today Packed with dramatic turning points. . . . Lehane has tried to capture the zeitgeist of an era even nuttier and more tumultuous than our own, and succeeded. --Entertainment Weekly Rollicking, brawling, gritty, political, and always completely absorbing, THE GIVEN DAY is a rich and satisfying epic. Readers, get ready to feast. This is a big book you won't want to put down. --Stewart O'Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster, A Prayer for the Dying, and Snow Angels Steeped in history but wearing its research lightly, The Given Day is a meaty, rich, old-fashioned and satisfying tale. I'd call it Lehane's masterpiece. --Seattle Times Superbly written, meticulously researched. . . . A thoughtful, provocative exploration of race, fame, power, and political corruption in American culture. . . . The Given Day places [Lehane] in the first rank of modern American novelists. --Associated Press The problem falls to readers to find something--anything--that doesn't pale in comparison once they've closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we're likely to read until ... well, until Lehane writes another. --BookPage The Given Day is a vast historical novel. . . . Spectacular details. . . . Finely thought-out. . . . . Many stunningly managed scenes. --Boston Globe This may be Lehane's finest work. . . . But The Given Day is more than a history lesson. . . . Lehane captures the essence of being American in a fast-changing society that eerily reflects our own. --USA Today [A] work of admirable ambition and scope. . . . Lehane is as much like contemporaries George Pelecanos and Richard Price as he is like the bygone Boston-based John P. Marquand, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. --Los Angeles Times Book Review [Lehane] deserves to be included among the most interesting and accomplished American novelists of any genre or category. . . . A powerful moment in history, and Lehane makes the most of it. . . . Heartfelt and moving. --Washington Post Book World A brawling, brawny, muscular epic exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. --Lee Child A gripping historical novel. . . . Infused with the same dark drama that set apart his earlier books. --Parade A historical epic that is easily the most ambitious work of Dennis Lehane s career. . . . THE GIVEN DAY aspires to be nothing less than the Great American Novel. . . . If Lehane was ever a singles hitter, now he s swinging for the fences. --Kirkus Reviews A splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction. . . . A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries serious moral gravity. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) As much a thriller as any of Lehane s previous work. Even beyond the historical events, THE GIVEN DAY qualifies as a sprawling, sweeping epic. . . . Lehane s masterful packing and precise prose make the story speed by. --Orlando Sentinel Brilliantly constructed. . . . Like E. L. Doctorow in Ragtime, Lehane captures the sense of a country coming of age, vividly dramatizing how the conflicting emotions and tortured dreams that drive individual human lives also send a nation roiling forward. --Booklist (starred review) Gut-wrenching force. . . . A majestic, fiery epic. . . . The Given Day is a huge, impassioned, intensively researched book that brings history alive. --New York Times Here s one way to get people excited about the nation s past: Get Dennis Lehane to write the history books. . . . A meticulously researched tale that in the hands of this master storyteller jumps right off the page and hollers. --St. Petersburg Times If you re swinging for the fences, it only makes sense that your novel begin with a lengthy, and very tasty, story about Babe Ruth. That Dennis Lehane sustains that level of play . . . is what gives THE GIVEN DAY a kind of greatness. . . . Lehane dazzles. --Chicago Sun-Times Lehane s first historical novel is a clear winner. . . . As good as it gets. --Library Journal (starred review) One of the fall s biggest books and not just because it s 704 pages. It s Lehane s most ambitious and literary work. --USA Today Packed with dramatic turning points. . . . Lehane has tried to capture the zeitgeist of an era even nuttier and more tumultuous than our own, and succeeded. --Entertainment Weekly Rollicking, brawling, gritty, political, and always completely absorbing, THE GIVEN DAY is a rich and satisfying epic. Readers, get ready to feast. This is a big book you won t want to put down. --Stewart O'Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster, A Prayer for the Dying, and Snow Angels Steeped in history but wearing its research lightly, The Given Day is a meaty, rich, old-fashioned and satisfying tale. I d call it Lehane s masterpiece. --Seattle Times Superbly written, meticulously researched. . . . A thoughtful, provocative exploration of race, fame, power, and political corruption in American culture. . . . The Given Day places [Lehane] in the first rank of modern American novelists. --Associated Press The problem falls to readers to find something anything that doesn t pale in comparison once they ve closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we re likely to read until well, until Lehane writes another. --BookPage The Given Day is a vast historical novel. . . . Spectacular details. . . . Finely thought-out. . . . . Many stunningly managed scenes. --Boston Globe This may be Lehane s finest work. . . . But The Given Day is more than a history lesson. . . . Lehane captures the essence of being American in a fast-changing society that eerily reflects our own. --USA Today A brawling, brawny, muscular epic-exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. -- Lee Child One of the fall's biggest books-and not just because it's 704 pages. It's Lehane's most ambitious and literary work. -- USA Today The problem falls to readers to find something-anything-that doesn't pale in comparison once they've closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we're likely to read until . well, until Lehane writes another. -- BookPage

One of the fall's biggest books-and not just because it's 704 pages. It's Lehane's most ambitious and literary work. -- USA Today The problem falls to readers to find something-anything-that doesn't pale in comparison once they've closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we're likely to read until . well, until Lehane writes another. -- BookPage A brawling, brawny, muscular epic-exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. -- Lee Child Gut-wrenching force. . . . A majestic, fiery epic. . . . The Given Day is a huge, impassioned, intensively researched book that brings history alive. --New York Times [Lehane] deserves to be included among the most interesting and accomplished American novelists of any genre or category. . . . A powerful moment in history, and Lehane makes the most of it. . . . Heartfelt and moving. --Washington Post Book World Steeped in history but wearing its research lightly, The Given Day is a meaty, rich, old-fashioned and satisfying tale. I d call it Lehane s masterpiece. --Seattle Times This may be Lehane s finest work. . . . But The Given Day is more than a history lesson. . . . Lehane captures the essence of being American in a fast-changing society that eerily reflects our own. --USA Today Brilliantly constructed. . . . Like E. L. Doctorow in Ragtime, Lehane captures the sense of a country coming of age, vividly dramatizing how the conflicting emotions and tortured dreams that drive individual human lives also send a nation roiling forward. --Booklist (starred review) [A] work of admirable ambition and scope. . . . Lehane is as much like contemporaries George Pelecanos and Richard Price as he is like the bygone Boston-based John P. Marquand, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. --Los Angeles Times Book Review As much a thriller as any of Lehane s previous work. Even beyond the historical events, THE GIVEN DAY qualifies as a sprawling, sweeping epic. . . . Lehane s masterful packing and precise prose make the story speed by. --Orlando Sentinel Superbly written, meticulously researched. . . . A thoughtful, provocative exploration of race, fame, power, and political corruption in American culture. . . . The Given Day places [Lehane] in the first rank of modern American novelists. --Associated Press Here s one way to get people excited about the nation s past: Get Dennis Lehane to write the history books. . . . A meticulously researched tale that in the hands of this master storyteller jumps right off the page and hollers. --St. Petersburg Times The Given Day is a vast historical novel. . . . Spectacular details. . . . Finely thought-out. . . . . Many stunningly managed scenes. --Boston Globe A splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction. . . . A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries serious moral gravity. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) A gripping historical novel. . . . Infused with the same dark drama that set apart his earlier books. --Parade A historical epic that is easily the most ambitious work of Dennis Lehane s career. . . . THE GIVEN DAY aspires to be nothing less than the Great American Novel. . . . If Lehane was ever a singles hitter, now he s swinging for the fences. --Kirkus Reviews One of the fall s biggest books and not just because it s 704 pages. It s Lehane s most ambitious and literary work. --USA Today If you re swinging for the fences, it only makes sense that your novel begin with a lengthy, and very tasty, story about Babe Ruth. That Dennis Lehane sustains that level of play . . . is what gives THE GIVEN DAY a kind of greatness. . . . Lehane dazzles. --Chicago Sun-Times Rollicking, brawling, gritty, political, and always completely absorbing, THE GIVEN DAY is a rich and satisfying epic. Readers, get ready to feast. This is a big book you won t want to put down. --Stewart O'Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster, A Prayer for the Dying, and Snow Angels The problem falls to readers to find something anything that doesn t pale in comparison once they ve closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we re likely to read until well, until Lehane writes another. --BookPage Lehane s first historical novel is a clear winner. . . . As good as it gets. --Library Journal (starred review) A brawling, brawny, muscular epic exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. --Lee Child Packed with dramatic turning points. . . . Lehane has tried to capture the zeitgeist of an era even nuttier and more tumultuous than our own, and succeeded. --Entertainment Weekly Gut-wrenching force. . . . A majestic, fiery epic. . . . The Given Day is a huge, impassioned, intensively researched book that brings history alive. --New York Times Steeped in history but wearing its research lightly, The Given Day is a meaty, rich, old-fashioned and satisfying tale. I'd call it Lehane's masterpiece. --Seattle Times The Given Day is a vast historical novel. . . . Spectacular details. . . . Finely thought-out. . . . . Many stunningly managed scenes. --Boston Globe One of the fall's biggest books--and not just because it's 704 pages. It's Lehane's most ambitious and literary work. --USA Today If you're swinging for the fences, it only makes sense that your novel begin with a lengthy, and very tasty, story about Babe Ruth. That Dennis Lehane sustains that level of play . . . is what gives THE GIVEN DAY a kind of greatness. . . . Lehane dazzles. --Chicago Sun-Times A splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction. . . . A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries serious moral gravity. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) Brilliantly constructed. . . . Like E. L. Doctorow in Ragtime, Lehane captures the sense of a country coming of age, vividly dramatizing how the conflicting emotions and tortured dreams that drive individual human lives also send a nation roiling forward. --Booklist (starred review) A historical epic that is easily the most ambitious work of Dennis Lehane's career. . . . THE GIVEN DAY aspires to be nothing less than the Great American Novel. . . . If Lehane was ever a singles hitter, now he's swinging for the fences. --Kirkus Reviews A gripping historical novel. . . . Infused with the same dark drama that set apart his earlier books. --Parade [Lehane] deserves to be included among the most interesting and accomplished American novelists of any genre or category. . . . A powerful moment in history, and Lehane makes the most of it. . . . Heartfelt and moving. --Washington Post Book World A brawling, brawny, muscular epic--exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. --Lee Child Rollicking, brawling, gritty, political, and always completely absorbing, THE GIVEN DAY is a rich and satisfying epic. Readers, get ready to feast. This is a big book you won't want to put down. --Stewart O'Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster, A Prayer for the Dying, and Snow Angels Superbly written, meticulously researched. . . . A thoughtful, provocative exploration of race, fame, power, and political corruption in American culture. . . . The Given Day places [Lehane] in the first rank of modern American novelists. --Associated Press Packed with dramatic turning points. . . . Lehane has tried to capture the zeitgeist of an era even nuttier and more tumultuous than our own, and succeeded. --Entertainment Weekly [A] work of admirable ambition and scope. . . . Lehane is as much like contemporaries George Pelecanos and Richard Price as he is like the bygone Boston-based John P. Marquand, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. --Los Angeles Times Book Review Here's one way to get people excited about the nation's past: Get Dennis Lehane to write the history books. . . . A meticulously researched tale that in the hands of this master storyteller jumps right off the page and hollers. --St. Petersburg Times As much a thriller as any of Lehane's previous work. Even beyond the historical events, THE GIVEN DAY qualifies as a sprawling, sweeping epic. . . . Lehane's masterful packing and precise prose make the story speed by. --Orlando Sentinel Lehane's first historical novel is a clear winner. . . . As good as it gets. --Library Journal (starred review) The problem falls to readers to find something--anything--that doesn't pale in comparison once they've closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we're likely to read until ... well, until Lehane writes another. --BookPage This may be Lehane's finest work. . . . But The Given Day is more than a history lesson. . . . Lehane captures the essence of being American in a fast-changing society that eerily reflects our own. --USA Today

A brawling, brawny, muscular epic-exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. -- Lee Child One of the fall's biggest books-and not just because it's 704 pages. It's Lehane's most ambitious and literary work. -- USA Today The problem falls to readers to find something-anything-that doesn't pale in comparison once they've closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we're likely to read until . well, until Lehane writes another. -- BookPage Gut-wrenching force. . . . A majestic, fiery epic. . . . The Given Day is a huge, impassioned, intensively researched book that brings history alive. --New York Times [Lehane] deserves to be included among the most interesting and accomplished American novelists of any genre or category. . . . A powerful moment in history, and Lehane makes the most of it. . . . Heartfelt and moving. --Washington Post Book World Steeped in history but wearing its research lightly, The Given Day is a meaty, rich, old-fashioned and satisfying tale. I d call it Lehane s masterpiece. --Seattle Times This may be Lehane s finest work. . . . But The Given Day is more than a history lesson. . . . Lehane captures the essence of being American in a fast-changing society that eerily reflects our own. --USA Today Brilliantly constructed. . . . Like E. L. Doctorow in Ragtime, Lehane captures the sense of a country coming of age, vividly dramatizing how the conflicting emotions and tortured dreams that drive individual human lives also send a nation roiling forward. --Booklist (starred review) [A] work of admirable ambition and scope. . . . Lehane is as much like contemporaries George Pelecanos and Richard Price as he is like the bygone Boston-based John P. Marquand, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. --Los Angeles Times Book Review As much a thriller as any of Lehane s previous work. Even beyond the historical events, THE GIVEN DAY qualifies as a sprawling, sweeping epic. . . . Lehane s masterful packing and precise prose make the story speed by. --Orlando Sentinel Superbly written, meticulously researched. . . . A thoughtful, provocative exploration of race, fame, power, and political corruption in American culture. . . . The Given Day places [Lehane] in the first rank of modern American novelists. --Associated Press Here s one way to get people excited about the nation s past: Get Dennis Lehane to write the history books. . . . A meticulously researched tale that in the hands of this master storyteller jumps right off the page and hollers. --St. Petersburg Times The Given Day is a vast historical novel. . . . Spectacular details. . . . Finely thought-out. . . . . Many stunningly managed scenes. --Boston Globe A splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction. . . . A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries serious moral gravity. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) A gripping historical novel. . . . Infused with the same dark drama that set apart his earlier books. --Parade A historical epic that is easily the most ambitious work of Dennis Lehane s career. . . . THE GIVEN DAY aspires to be nothing less than the Great American Novel. . . . If Lehane was ever a singles hitter, now he s swinging for the fences. --Kirkus Reviews One of the fall s biggest books and not just because it s 704 pages. It s Lehane s most ambitious and literary work. --USA Today If you re swinging for the fences, it only makes sense that your novel begin with a lengthy, and very tasty, story about Babe Ruth. That Dennis Lehane sustains that level of play . . . is what gives THE GIVEN DAY a kind of greatness. . . . Lehane dazzles. --Chicago Sun-Times Lehane s first historical novel is a clear winner. . . . As good as it gets. --Library Journal (starred review) Rollicking, brawling, gritty, political, and always completely absorbing, THE GIVEN DAY is a rich and satisfying epic. Readers, get ready to feast. This is a big book you won t want to put down. --Stewart O'Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster, A Prayer for the Dying, and Snow Angels A brawling, brawny, muscular epic exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. --Lee Child The problem falls to readers to find something anything that doesn t pale in comparison once they ve closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we re likely to read until well, until Lehane writes another. --BookPage Packed with dramatic turning points. . . . Lehane has tried to capture the zeitgeist of an era even nuttier and more tumultuous than our own, and succeeded. --Entertainment Weekly A gripping historical novel. . . . Infused with the same dark drama that set apart his earlier books. --Parade [Lehane] deserves to be included among the most interesting and accomplished American novelists of any genre or category. . . . A powerful moment in history, and Lehane makes the most of it. . . . Heartfelt and moving. --Washington Post Book World Gut-wrenching force. . . . A majestic, fiery epic. . . . The Given Day is a huge, impassioned, intensively researched book that brings history alive. --New York Times A brawling, brawny, muscular epic--exactly what great mainstream novels used to be. --Lee Child Steeped in history but wearing its research lightly, The Given Day is a meaty, rich, old-fashioned and satisfying tale. I'd call it Lehane's masterpiece. --Seattle Times Rollicking, brawling, gritty, political, and always completely absorbing, THE GIVEN DAY is a rich and satisfying epic. Readers, get ready to feast. This is a big book you won't want to put down. --Stewart O'Nan, author of Last Night at the Lobster, A Prayer for the Dying, and Snow Angels The Given Day is a vast historical novel. . . . Spectacular details. . . . Finely thought-out. . . . . Many stunningly managed scenes. --Boston Globe Superbly written, meticulously researched. . . . A thoughtful, provocative exploration of race, fame, power, and political corruption in American culture. . . . The Given Day places [Lehane] in the first rank of modern American novelists. --Associated Press One of the fall's biggest books--and not just because it's 704 pages. It's Lehane's most ambitious and literary work. --USA Today Packed with dramatic turning points. . . . Lehane has tried to capture the zeitgeist of an era even nuttier and more tumultuous than our own, and succeeded. --Entertainment Weekly If you're swinging for the fences, it only makes sense that your novel begin with a lengthy, and very tasty, story about Babe Ruth. That Dennis Lehane sustains that level of play . . . is what gives THE GIVEN DAY a kind of greatness. . . . Lehane dazzles. --Chicago Sun-Times [A] work of admirable ambition and scope. . . . Lehane is as much like contemporaries George Pelecanos and Richard Price as he is like the bygone Boston-based John P. Marquand, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. --Los Angeles Times Book Review Here's one way to get people excited about the nation's past: Get Dennis Lehane to write the history books. . . . A meticulously researched tale that in the hands of this master storyteller jumps right off the page and hollers. --St. Petersburg Times A splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction. . . . A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries serious moral gravity. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) As much a thriller as any of Lehane's previous work. Even beyond the historical events, THE GIVEN DAY qualifies as a sprawling, sweeping epic. . . . Lehane's masterful packing and precise prose make the story speed by. --Orlando Sentinel Brilliantly constructed. . . . Like E. L. Doctorow in Ragtime, Lehane captures the sense of a country coming of age, vividly dramatizing how the conflicting emotions and tortured dreams that drive individual human lives also send a nation roiling forward. --Booklist (starred review) Lehane's first historical novel is a clear winner. . . . As good as it gets. --Library Journal (starred review) A historical epic that is easily the most ambitious work of Dennis Lehane's career. . . . THE GIVEN DAY aspires to be nothing less than the Great American Novel. . . . If Lehane was ever a singles hitter, now he's swinging for the fences. --Kirkus Reviews The problem falls to readers to find something--anything--that doesn't pale in comparison once they've closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, THE GIVEN DAY is about as close to the great American novel as we're likely to read until ... well, until Lehane writes another. --BookPage This may be Lehane's finest work. . . . But The Given Day is more than a history lesson. . . . Lehane captures the essence of being American in a fast-changing society that eerily reflects our own. --USA Today

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