Across Seward Park
In 1912 New York, young Irving Friedman endures an oppressive household run by an abusive father. But nobody has it harder than Arthur, Irv’s older brother, who is beaten every time he has a seizure he cannot control. When Arthur is sent away, Irving’s sister Miriam takes matters into her own hands. Due to her strength, Irving begins a path that is safe from abuse but still tough—the garment workers’ strikes, the intricacies of union organizing, and ultimately the struggles of a businessman. But young Irv really only has one goal at heart, something he is desperate to achieve.
This is a realistic and gripping saga that follows a Jewish family in New York from 1912 through 1965. The points of view vary between Irving, his sister Miriam, and Miriam’s daughter Michelle. The characters are richly developed. Miriam’s hard heart is easily explained by the things she has endured, and Irving’s devotion to his brother is the core reason for all of his choices. Michelle is the epitome of someone who makes decisions without having the full story. The descriptions evoke the harsh sights and smells of that time. Near the beginning of the book, I felt as if I had stepped into 1917 Manhattan in the middle of a workers’ strike. The squalid life in New York tenements and the experiences of starting a new business at that time are so truthfully told. The appalling treatment of the mentally ill or those with certain medical conditions in the early 20th century is shown through the struggles of one character.
The novel is a story of a family, but also a history of the United States and the world over the lifetime of one man. Heartbreaking, true to the period, and gritty; I was mesmerized throughout. Highly recommended.
