Customer Reviews

The Gods of Newport

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A master of historical fiction has given us yet another engaging storyline, this time set just before the turn of the last century.

At its core is Sam Drubermann of Ohio, who worked his way up through the ranks of railroad barons and above-the-law capitalists to become one of the exalted, the upper crust of American society. Changing his last name to Driver to escape some past nastiness, Sam vows to live by a quote he once saw posted in Jay Gould's office: "Never let them get the best of you." To clear his dead wife's name and to establish a legacy for his daughter Jenny, Sam commissions a 20-room cottage to be built at the summer playground of the elite: Newport, Rhode Island. Jenny is intrigued by the promise of being accepted in such a world, but her head is simultaneously turned by a common Irish boy named Prince Molloy. Sam attempts to thwart any relationship between Jenny and Prince, preferring his daughter to marry someone more respectable, like architect Dickie Glossop or Russian emigrant Count Ismail Orlov, an antique dealer. And Sam must also continually deal with the machinations of his old nemesis, William King Brady III. Newport society itself is a main character here. A symbol of decadence and opulence, the coastal town was a place where the "swells" could go to be amongst themselves; a place where the attention of a good woman could be won or lost over the outcome of a tennis match, and where passing another lady's carriage out of turn could be considered the most unforgivable of social gaffes. Even as Sam gets himself and Jenny more firmly enmeshed in Newport, he experiences disturbing and metaphoric nightmares. Is this level of life truly worth the cost?

The title of the book comes from the admonishment of Jenny's Grandfather Penny, who warned her about the dangers of disobeying the First Commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." It takes a while for Jenny to realize that Newport offers several such gods disguised as the trappings of high society: namely money, fashion, and reputation. Both she and her father learn a lot about class, about appearances, and about themselves by the close of the book.

"The Gods of Newport" is among Jakes' better novels, combining just the right amount of historical reality and ficticious invention. It provides not only entertainment, but much food for thought. Why are we still in awe of the rich and famous? Would any of us really want to trade places with someone in the upper class? Perhaps Sam Driver would have done well to heed another familiar saying: Be careful what you wish for.

In the late nineteenth century, Newport, Rhode Island was a vacation haven for the country's wealthiest families. It was a beacon for the likes of the Astors and the Vanderbilts, who built elaborate summer "cottages" along fashionable Bellevue Avenue. These mansions-turned-museums are now open to the public, allowing visitors a glimpse of the Gilded Age excess that once reigned supreme in this seaside resort. But even the most vivid imagination can't fully conjure the realities of Newport in its zenith --- unless you're historical fiction master John Jakes.

In THE GODS OF NEWPORT, Jakes uses Newport as the backdrop for a story about class warfare --- not only between rich and poor but also old money versuses new wealth. In 1894, after the murder of his wife, self-made railroad mogul Samuel Driver is determined to break into the Newport social circle that once spurned his beloved spouse and find a rich and titled husband for his only child, Jenny.

Sam and Jenny arrive in Newport, where Sam uses his vast wealth to garner allies among the elite denizens, build an opulent mansion called Red Rose, and thwart the actions of an old rival determined to exclude and humiliate him. Sam's efforts also include preventing Jenny from seeing a poor, handsome Irishman with whom she falls in love during their first summer in Newport.

Part of the city's hardscrabble underclass, Prince Molloy's only sin is falling in love with a rich man's daughter. Sam contrives to keep the young lovers apart, ordering a thrashing that leaves Prince Molloy scarred physically and mentally and later forcing Jenny into a loveless marriage with a ruthless Count.

In this entertaining page turner, Jakes delivers an engrossing storyline, brings to life a fascinating tableau of characters real and imagined, and gives readers a glimpse into a bygone era that epitomized both glamour and overindulgence at the turn of the twentieth century. (Be sure to read the Author's Note for additional information about what becomes of Prince and Jenny.)

--- Reviewed by Shannon McKenna

I am a huge fan of john jakes, and a big fan of newport, but this book just doesn't really take off. some good stuff, but basically flat....

As a big fan of John Jakes' many books, I found this a good look at Newport's early history. However, the story (as well as "Charleston" & "Savannah) was a rather sketchy "hurry up & finish this", not like his earlier great historical novels. I am disappointed that Jakes has abandoned his practice of fleshing out his characters & plots - surely at this stage in his life, he can't be that much of a hurry.

I started reading John Jake's books back in the days of the Kent Family Chronicles, and he has made a history buff of me. Jakes is a master at weaving his fictional characters into actual history. The Gods of Newport lives up to what I have learned to expect from John Jakes. I am not sure who some of the fictional characters are, although, actual people are obvious. I did not realize what went on in Newport. In his prologue, Jakes suggests a trip to Newport if you have never been there. That is now on our list of places to go.

While Gods of Newport was an improvement over Savannah and Charleston, it did not capture the pathos or character development of the Kent and North South series. Jakes may still be acquiescing to publishers who want "short" versus "well developed" fiction. Alas we are all the worse if this is the case. At least he is still writing and perhaps he will give us one more truly interesting historical novel where the charaters are so well developed that we can consider them friends we can't wait to visit with.

I plowed my way through 40 or so pages of this snoozer and gave up. Why does Jakes try to cram 30 years of backstory full of history, scandal, and drama into the first few chapters? If he wanted to write a saga, he should have spread it out over several books and taken his time. As it is, the plot jumps around frequently, making everything feel disjointed and there are so many characters coming and going that it's hard to remember who is who. It doesn't help that they all have the personality of a dead fish (and it's the same fish again and again).

Then there's the corny dialogue, the flat narrative, the utter lack of humor...the whole thing feels very thrown together and made me suspect Jakes is hoping this one will coast on the success of his earlier works.

A novel written by John Jakes always holds my attention. THE GODS OF NEWPORT is no different. Mr. Jakes is an excellent writer and in this novel he writes of the turn of the century from the 1800's to the 1900's. Newport was the "mecca center" for the rich and ultra rich. If you "made it" in Newport society, you were accepted in the social circles of New York City as well. Known names such as Vanderbilt give you the idea of just how wealthy these "Newporters" were expected to be.

Sam Drive wants to be a part of this society. He wants this for his daughter, Jenny, as well as for himself. He was not of OLD MONEY but came up from the ranks of the poor. He has his sights set on a wealthy and titled husband for Jenny but she has other ideas even if she is slow to realize them.

Sam builds a house in Newport and the architect tries to woo Jenny with less than satisfying results. Meanwhile, Prince Malloy sees Jenny at the local tennis club and picks her out as yet another conquest to "love'em and leave'em" to get even for the way the rich treated his deceased mother. Cupid has other ideas and when Prince and Jenny finally manage to get together, they find true love. Alas, Sam steps in and creates trouble for Prince to push him away from Jenny. He takes her to Europe and a "count" takes up with Jenny with Sam's approval. Sam even manages to get them married.

Is this the end of true love? Oh, I can't tell you that but besides this main theme, there are other smaller scenarios going on so pay attention to who's who when listening to this audio book. I will say that the ending is left hanging, in my opinion. Mr. Jakes doesn't usually do this but in this one I felt he left some unanswered questions.

Edward Herrmann read this novel and did a splendid job. He used different voices for the different characters which made listening to his reading very easy. No wonder he has so many theater credits to his name.

If you have read other John Jakes novels, you won't be disappointed in this one. He adds yet another great book to his list of credits.

My husband and I fell in love with Newport, Rhode Island on a trip there several years ago. While Newport is perhaps American's most beautiful resort city, there is a lot of ugliness underneath the surface. John Jakes admirably captures the good, the bad and the ugly in The Gods of Newport.

Jakes creates two fictional families and a fictional young man for the basis of this story. Sam Driver made his millions working for robber barons, Jim Fisk and Jay Gould. He was never accepted into society because he was considered new money and he married a former dancer. Now that his wife has been killed by a disgruntled competitor, Driver is determined to take his beautiful, teenaged daughter, Jenny, to Newport. He plans to build a magnificent cottage, Red Rose, in his wife' memory, from where he can launch Jenny into society. William K. Brady is a prominent but mean-spirited member of society (as are his wife and daughter). Having been bested a number of times by Sam Driver, Brady will stop at nothing to bring down his arch rival. Then there's the young, Irish-lad, Prince Molloy. Molloy was born to a poor single mother, who served as a house servant to Newport's rich until she met an early grave. Molloy falls for the beautiful but unavailable Jenny Driver the first time he lays eyes on her, although Sam Driver stands in the way. There is quite a bit of high drama as all these characters collide with one another.

What makes The Gods of Newport so interesting is that Jakes surrounds these fictional characters with actual people and he includes quite a bit of the history of Newport. Over the centuries, Newport has served as a home to slave traders, Southern plantation owners, British red coats, smugglers, pirates, and the Navy. But all the rules changed when robber barons (and more importantly, their wives) overran the island for 8 weeks each summer in the late 1800s. Jakes includes all the big names including The Mrs. Astor, Alva Vanderbilt, Mamie Fish, O.H.P. Belmont, Alice Vanderbilt, Ward McAllister and Harry Lehr (to name just a few). He also describes the outlandish parties (including Mamie Fish's dog party), the private beach, the Casino and the private clubs, and especially, the obscenely-expensive "cottages." Things are changing, however, and Americans are starting to rebel over the "reckless extravagance" of Newport.

There aren't too many likable characters in The Gods of Newport, although some of them finally recognize that change is going to come, and that change can be good. One of them realizes how many false gods are worshipped in Newport including money, fashion, and reputation. After finishing The Gods of Newport, it makes me yearn for a return trip.

I am a collector of john jakes books. he is a very good author and makes his novels very interesting and exciting. i purchased the gods of newport as i have not been able to find it in this area. it is an exciting and fast moving book, thrills around every corner. just when you think you may have solved the question, you dont.
before i purchased the book, i would have liked to see a list of other john jakes books from the company i got it from, so that i might save on postage.