Customer Reviews

Harvard Yard

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Martin's latest novel follows the history of Harvard University from its inception in mid-1600, when endowed by John Harvard, Puritan son of Robert Harvard, of Southwark, England. After most of the family is decimated by the plague in England in 1625, surviving son John Harvard moves with his wife to New England, where he bequeaths his father's prestigious library, with Robert Harvard's message to the future, that "a man is known by his books".

Among the precious volumes is a handwritten play by William Shakespeare for John and his wife. The play is even more valuable because it is an original and the only copy of it ever produced by Shakespeare. However, things become difficult as the first establishment for higher education is run by the strict Puritan dogma, one that is restrictive of frivolous ideas or temptations. As we follow the history of the small volume, it is necessary for it to be removed and placed in a safe place until the college has broadened its perspective on what constitutes an education. The ensuing quest for this Shakespearean work is the central theme of Harvard Yard.

Moving back and forth in time, Harvard Yard revisits the original manuscript and its unique place in the Harvard library, making a case for the play's removal from the library when its survival is threatened by the historical imperative of the Puritan ethic, as well as the suggestion of it's possible reappearance. Antiquarian book dealer Peter Fallon is called to Harvard by his fellow alumni, descendants of the Wedge family, a dynasty that has been integral to the formation of Harvard's educational policy and financial resources. Fallon is asked to do research to determine if there is such a lost play, and if so, to do all he can to locate it, as it is worth millions of dollars. There is a huge market for this collectible; along with legitimate dealers there are criminal elements, all vying for information that will lead to this great prize.

As in his previous novels, Cape Cod and Back Bay, Harvard Yard is a successful blend of fiction and history. Many of the characters play pivotal roles in the evolution of higher learning in America, from its Puritan beginnings, classical underpinnings and eventual acceptance of minorities into what is essentially an elite group with great influence in society.
There is an interesting thread of feminism underlying the whole story, acknowledging the struggles of the women through their respective generations, those unable to demand a voice for themselves. Each difficult period of history is detailed: the unfolding evolution of education and politics, from the Boston Tea Party to the Revolution to the Civil War, the great fire that destroyed the original library and all the other seminal events that have impacted this country.

Harvard Yard is an engrossing read, thanks to the author's lively approach to historical events, the development of higher education and the silent war for equal opportunity that continues today. These characters are found on the pages of history, but Martin gives them life and individuality through their dreams, longings, differences and changing religious philosophies. As well, the author broadens the scope of the story, sculpting a human dimension to the past and our interpretation of the future. Luan Gaines/ 2003.

Through Harvard grad Peter Fallon, a rare book dealer, author William Martin reveals the more than three hundred fifty years of Harvard history and its intimate connections to the history of New England and the nation. An ancient legend says that Robert Harvard, father of John Harvard, for whom the college was named, lived in Stratford-on-Avon and was a friend of Shakespeare. Supposedly, Shakespeare gave him a hand-written manuscript of a now-lost play as a wedding present, sometime around 1605. Author Martin uses this legend as the fulcrum around which the book turns and speculates about what might have happened to the play over the course of almost four hundred years.

A dozen generations after Shakespeare gave the manuscript to Robert Harvard, a member of the Wedge family engages Peter Fallon of Back Bay to try to confirm the existence of the manuscript and ascertain its whereabouts. As Fallon begins his research into the story of the Isaac Wedge, thought to have received the manuscript from John Harvard, he introduces us to such luminaries as Cotton Mather, a religious zealot who began Harvard at age 11; George Burroughs, who was executed in the Salem Witch Trials; Caleb Wedge, who fought in the Revolutionary War; Theodore Wedge, a friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau; and eventually to Joseph Kennedy, Harry Widener, John Kenneth Galbraith, Robert Oppenheimer, and President Franklin Roosevelt. We witness the horrors of King Philip's War and the religious excesses of the Salem Witch Trials, the Great Boston Fire, the Civil War, the sinking of the Titanic, two world wars, and the opening of the college to Jews, blacks, and women.

Martin's concern is to make history lively and understandable, his characters sympathetic and often noble. He humanizes even the dour Puritans and the earliest settlers, observing the commonplaces of their lives. A great deal of humor enlivens the novel, which even includes chases reminiscent of slapstick farce. He emphasizes basic ideas, rather than the minutiae of history, entertaining his readers, rather than bogging down in complex details. Ultimately, Martin explains how succeeding administrations at Harvard have ensured that the brightest students from all walks of life will have the same opportunities for intellectual growth, regardless of income level or sex. This huge and entertaining novel is a tribute both to Harvard and to the men and women it has educated--popular history at its best. Mary Whipple

Harvard Yard is William Martin's very best in a pantheon of excellent novels. The fortunes of Harvard, the people who brought the college into being and the four hundred years of history, with all the pathos, ethos and Thanatos found in the very best historical novels. Martin goes for the double story here, as he had in Back Bay and Cape Cod: the historical story moving forward through time told through the eyes of a cast of facinating characters who went to Harvard and built this nation - and the current story in which the main character and the woman he loves discover a dark secret at Harvard that could change the fortunes of the world. I read it straight through, wanting more. Highly recommended.

You've gotta love a story that introduces William Shakespeare, as one of the characters, on the very first page! That's how William Martin begins his latest novel, HARVARD YARD. Robert Harvard, father of someday-to-be founder of Harvard University, John Harvard, is on his way to Stratford-On-Avon to visit his friend Will. Bill Martin has fashioned quite a wonderful tale from this meeting between friends. We get re-introduced to Peter Fallon, an antiquarian book dealer from Martin's previous novel, BACK BAY, who is now on the trail of something even more exciting than a Paul Revere Tea Set. (Well, I certainly would rather have a lost manuscript of Shakespeare's even more than the tea set!).
The character that energizes this novel is the University itself. Its presence and influence are felt throughout Harvard Alum Martin's compelling story. We come to see that Harvard, more than any other University, has the stature and cachet to construct this story around. Major events in our history are seen through the portal of Harvard and a quintessential Harvard family, the Wedge's. We learn of Harvard's simple origins and how it grew and becomes the force it is today. We meet important influences in the University's development, such as that fun father and son duo, Increase and Cotton Mather. (They kind of remind me of that joke about a Puritan minister's always having a sour look on his face because somewhere, somehow, someone is having a good time.). We learn why theater is the Devil's work. Why the Colonial fathers made a law against theater in 1767. (Play. A mere word and the uttering of it was like the sound of a gun.)
We discover that Harvard Graduation, long ago, was a Cambridge holiday. It turned Cambridge Commons into a kind of Mardi Gras. We learn the sad circumstance that lead to the creation of the Widener Library. We take side trips to the Salem Witch Trials and the great Boston fire that destroyed much of the financial district of the time. We eavesdrop on a lecture by Ralph Waldo Emerson at the Divinity School.
Historical heavyweights such as Joseph Kennedy, Robert Oppenheimer and John Kenneth Galbraith make appearances. As does President Franklin Roosevelt. Martin shows us why Harvard is as tradition bound as his ANNAPOLIS. And how important tradition is to our great institutions. The book is a wealth of Harvard lore and myth and American History, guided by Bill Martin's usual deft hand and obvious love of history and his Harvard.
Throughout our country's good times and bad, times of war and times of peace, Harvard has had a hand to play, contributions to make. In this fast-paced, informative novel, Bill Martin once again takes us on an exciting and enlightening journey, back and forth through time.
If, as Robert Harvard instills in his son John, 'A man will be known by his books,' then certainly William Martin will be known by this book, too. It's vintage William Martin. Fans of history will love this book. Fans of Harvard will love this book. And those who just want a good story will love this book!

With the death of James Michener, a great void was left in the world of historical novels. William Martin has filled that void with GREAT historical novels about New England and other times and places in history. HARVARD YARD brings you face to face with the history of America's oldest college and the persons who played a major role in its development. All this comes about as a mystery unfolds in the same manner as the movie "National Treasure". Excitement from page 1-the end. Step back and live history from 1600 to the present.

Harvard Yard is yet another in a long string of masterful historical/mystery novels by one of the premier authors of historical fiction, William Martin.

As a history buff by degree, inclination and training, I'm always puzzled when anyone says that 'History' is boring. History is all about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The more history you read, understand and enjoy, the more you realize that every TV show, soap opera, sob story, scandal, romance or nightly newscast is made up of the same components that makes history so fascinating.
When my wife and I were newlyweds she was an avid reader but said she hated history. When I asked her what she liked, she said stories about families; their lives and hopes and dreams, and she especially liked following families through the generations.
"Ah." I said ,"Have I got an author for you!"
Thus did I introduce my wife to William Martin and she has been a fan ever since.

William Martin makes reading about history fun, because he takes exciting places and times and populates them with famous and ordinary, but always interesting, characters - from the villains to the heroes.

His novel The Harvard Yard is a perfect example of interesting times and places filled with ordinary characters who wind up doing extraordinary things.
Mr Martin allows us to see a window in time and follow the lives of these people, generation after generation, from the time of the Pilgrims and Puritans, all the way down to the present.

The novel Harvard Yard begins appropriately enough with John Harvard himself and a fascinating connection to an ancient legend says that Robert Harvard, father of John Harvard, for whom the college was named, lived in Stratford-on-Avon and was a friend of Shakespeare. In this fascinating game of 'what if?", William Martin weaves a centuries spanning tale of mystery, intrigue and multi-generational strife around the premise of 'what if' Shakespeare had given the father of John Harvard a hand-written manuscript of a now-lost play as a wedding present?

Martin then plunges Peter Fallon, our favorite protagonist from his other historical, mysteries such as Back Bay, into his most exciting situation yet.
In a truly masterful style William Martin allows us to play historical sleuth along with Peter Fallon as he uncovers layer after layer of clues as to the existence of the invaluable manuscript. And along the way we as readers are allowed to catch real-life glimpses of real history being made by the ordinary and extraordinary people who made it. These are not the dry dusty far away names that you were made to memorize in school, these are the real flesh and blood men and women really populated the world of our historical past. Let William Martin introduce them to you. I guarantee that you'll be glad you did.

Ric Wasley - Author

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Shadow of Innocence

This book is a Harvard mystery. Be aware, however, that it is more Harvard than mystery. Those who love Harvard will enjoy this book far more than those who love mystery.

This book should not be compared to "The Da Vinci Code," which I also have read. While both books concern the search for something important and both have a historical backdrop, "The Da Vinci Code," though not much shorter, is much more efficiently told. Every word of "Da Vinci Code" advances the mystery. There are too many sentimental and dramatic digressions into and out of, well, Harvard Yard for the same to be said of this book. Extended character development prevents the mystery from achieving much pace until the very end. That would be fine in a historical novel which was not also a mystery, but it works imperfectly here.

I give the book 4 stars because it is excellent as a historical novel that gives insight into the foundations of one of the most important non-governmental institutions in America. As a mystery, it would receive a lower rating.

Ah, Harvard! If you've spent time in Cambridge or at the college, then this book will very likely resonate with you. Familiar and redolent names like Holden Chapel and Hicks House and Houghton Library (and that's just the "h"s!) are everywhere. If you haven't been back to the Yard in a while, but want to take a trip down memory lane without booking a flight to Logan, this is the book for you.

It's not just for alums and Cambridge townies, though. There's a wonderful historical-fiction novel wrapped in a very interesting detective story, too. From Shakespeare to the Puritans, from the Revolution to the Civil War, from the Titanic to the take-over of University Hall, the book spins a thoroughly engrossing tale. This is a fun, enjoyable read.

Mr. Martin's obvious love of academic research is put to wonderful use in bringing the venerable history of Harvard to life, and through his protagonist, one may also enjoy discovering the particulars of the rare book business, such as the lurking danger posed by "blue mold."

However, the real mystery for this reader was how the author managed to render even the standard thriller must-haves such as murder and sex un-utterably dull.

Overall, the book is a genuinely good effort, but if this were a first date, I'd leave it at that.

I waited a long time since Citizen Washington for Bill Martin's next book and was not disappointed. I read it in about two days,only putting it down long enough to go to work. I may be a little biased since I am from and presently live in Boston, but its all part of the fun, since after reading this you can go to the places that are described and see it for yourself. One of these days I will get down to Annapolis also. Like Back Bay, Harvard Yard is a combination history lesson and treasure hunt. What could be better?