Lehane has already proven himself as a critially acclaimed author, yet
The Given
Day rises above all previous benchmarks. This
historical fiction about the 1919 Boston Police Strike has it all: action, sports, politics and, of course, love.
Lehane has a spectacular ability to portray his characters through language and dialect. Readers are drawn into the novel by the humorous interplay of characters and their speech patterns, but it is the constantly intriguing plot that keeps readers turning the pages. Listening to Babe Ruth's comradery with an all black community baseball team not only brings a smile to your lips, but it also makes you wonder what will be thrown at you next.
The Given Day encompasses many politically and socially turbulant topics, yet throughout the novel the author remains non-judgmental. The unstable society of post-war Boston is considered by all angles and the reader is allowed to form allegience where they will; no decision is forced, regardless of the ultimately unchangable outcome of the situation.
Lehane proves that there can be a story that appeals to all, and he delivers with his latest novel,
The Given Day.