Books like The Gods of Newport by John Jakes
In the gilded summer of 1893, Newport’s grand “cottages” and glittering social scene become a battleground for reputation and ambition. Railroad mogul Sam Driver, once shunned for his ruthless past, seeks redemption by securing entry into the island’s elite circles, aided by the influential Ward McAllister and Harry Lehr. His daughter Jenny, eager for the pleasures of Newport life, finds herself entangled in a forbidden romance with a poor Irish youth.
Jakes paints a vivid portrait of class tension, greed, and the fragility of social standing—issues that echo even in contemporary America. The novel combines historical detail with an engaging exploration of family, ambition, and the limits of inherited wealth.
First publish date: 2006
Genre: Historical Fiction/19th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: John Jakes
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