The Given Day

By: Dennis Lehane

Narrated by: Michael Boatman

Set in Boston at the end of the First World War, New York Times best-selling author Dennis Lehane's long-awaited eighth novel unflinchingly captures the political and social unrest of a nation caught at the crossroads between past and future.

Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters more richly drawn than any Lehane has ever created, The Given Day tells the story of two families: one black, one white, swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, Brahmins and ordinary citizens, all engaged in a battle for survival and power.

Beat cop Danny Coughlin, the son of one of the city's most beloved and powerful police captains, joins a burgeoning union movement and the hunt for violent radicals. Luther Laurence, on the run after a deadly confrontation with a crime boss in Tulsa, works for the Coughlin family and tries desperately to find his way home to his pregnant wife.

Here, too, are some of the most influential figures of the era: Babe Ruth; Eugene O'Neill; leftist activist Jack Reed; NAACP founder W. E. B. DuBois; Mitchell Palmer, Woodrow Wilson's ruthless Red-chasing attorney general; cunning Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge; and an ambitious young Department of Justice lawyer named John Hoover.

Coursing through some of the pivotal events of the time, including the Spanish Influenza pandemic and culminating in the Boston Police Strike of 1919, The Given Day explores the crippling violence and irrepressible exuberance of a country at war with, and in the thrall of, itself. As Danny, Luther, and those around them struggle to define themselves in increasingly turbulent times, they gradually find family in one another and, together, ride a rising storm of hardship, deprivation, and hope that will change all their lives.

©2008 Dennis Lehane (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"[An] engrossing epic....A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit." ( Publishers Weekly)

Excellent story and history lesson

Excellent story and history lesson. Engrossing characters.

Much more than simply a crime novel...

This was my third Dennis Lehane novel and I have to say - the man can write a story. “The given day” is the beginning of a trilogy (regrettably I’ve read the second episode before this one) that has the ambition to complement a rather classic plot of gangsters/mafia/political corruption with a socio-economic picture of post World-War I Boston. The characters are well drawn and the writing is crisp and evocative even when Lehane deviates the attention from the main story and start describing the hard life of immigrants and ethnic minorities, rampant racism, pro and ante union factions, anarchists and urban terrorists. The lives of the two main characters (Danny and Luther) –so distant one from the other by race and background - interject and cross each other at times, but remain distant, as society has given them a different role. This is a story about coming to the crossroads, and making choices that define who you are.
The only criticism to this book is that toward the end (say two/third into the story) Lehane starts rambling and the momentum of the plot seems to fade away; the books sounds at times overwritten and the impression of sharp elegance that one had got thorough most of the book is a bit tainted.
Overall a great reading !

Wanted To like It More

Being from Boston I thought I would enjoy all the historical settings and stories. Very depressing and only a little bit interesting.

Epic!

What a great story! Well written, wonderful characters, and beautiful language. The performance was incredible!

Follett and Archer fans will love this!

I really enjoyed this book even though it’s long and it took me a while to finish it. I wouldn’t exactly call it a thrill a minute page turner, but I found it kept my interest. The characters were interesting and well written. It basically tells the story of some fictional characters during an actual period in American history. I found the writing style here quite similar to
Ken Follett and Jeffrey Archer. If you are a fan of Follett and/or Archer, give this a try!

A Solid Read

Based on the reviews I downloaded this book and found it completely fascinating. It was a page turner I rooted for several characters (which I rarely do). I would recommend this book to everyone I know.

Solid read

I was entertained. I learned some history. Well worth a read. I will be buying more of his books.

Well-read

Where does The Given Day rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

First

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Given Day?

Michael Boatman's Boston and Irish accents.

What does Michael Boatman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A certain sophistication that is a part of his image.

Who was the most memorable character of The Given Day and why?

Tessa.

Any additional comments?

No.

Review of The Given Day

Wonderful story with characters that come alive! The historical background was a bonus.
Dennis Lehane is a terrific storyteller.

great story and the narrator really got into it

This was not only a greato story, but the narration was great. I had a real feel for each of the characters