THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER!THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!
She built the Brooklyn Bridge, so why don’t you know her name?
Emily Roebling built a monument for all time. Then she was lost in its shadow. Discover the fascinating woman who helped design and construct the Brooklyn Bridge. Perfect for book clubs and fans of Marie Benedict.
Emily refuses to live conventionally—she knows who she is and … Benedict.
Emily refuses to live conventionally—she knows who she is and what she wants, and she’s determined to make change. But then her husband asks the unthinkable: give up her dreams to make his possible.
Emily’s fight for women’s suffrage is put on hold, and her life transformed when her husband Washington Roebling, the Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, is injured on the job. Untrained for the task, but under his guidance, she assumes his role, despite stern resistance and overwhelming obstacles. But as the project takes shape under Emily’s direction, she wonders whose legacy she is building—hers, or her husband’s. As the monument rises, Emily’s marriage, principles, and identity threaten to collapse. When the bridge finally stands finished, will she recognize the woman who built it?
Based on the true story of an American icon, The Engineer’s Wife delivers an emotional portrait of a woman transformed by a project of unfathomable scale, which takes her into the bowels of the East River, suffragette riots, the halls of Manhattan’s elite, and the heady, freewheeling temptations of P.T. Barnum. The biography of a husband and wife determined to build something that lasts—even at the risk of losing each other.
“Historical fiction at its finest.”—Andrea Bobotis, author of The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt
Other Bestselling Historical Fiction from Sourcebooks Landmark:
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
more
The Engineer’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood is an amazing and fascinating historical fiction that focusses on Mrs. Emily Warren Roebling, as the main character, as the woman that should have been standing next to the men, Captain Washington Roebling and his father John, as the chief engineers that created and built the stunning and ingenious Brooklyn Bridge that was completed in 1883.
This story recounts the life dedicated to the creation and building of this breathtaking monument of human ingenuity and perseverance, as well as the numerous obstacles that were placed in front of an intelligent, fiesty, and unique woman that was present during this time.
I loved learning about Emily, her story of struggles, and her path to hard-won success. I loved learning more about the Brooklyn bridge and the construction that took place for it to be. I never realized how many years it took for completion.
I feel it is important to learn of all the adversities for this bridge to be built, as well as all the lives forever changed and lost in the process. Caisson disease (decompression sickness), as well as the danger of bridge building, are both very real and serious occurrences during this time.
I also feel the discussion of women’s trials and suffrage is important to discuss as well and I am so glad that the author was able to bring this struggle to light with due justice.
The author’s note at the end was fabulous and discussed what was real and what was fictional that was intertwined with history to make this book the beauty that it is. This is the first book written by this author, and I feel she has a fabulous career ahead of her. It kept my interest and attention till the end. Bravo.
5/5 stars
The Engineer’s Wife is a fascinating piece of historical fiction about Emily Warren, the wife of Wash Roebling, who was the Chief Engineer on the Brooklyn Bridge project. The Brooklyn Bridge is such an iconic and impressive landmark, but I didn’t know much about its history. And I certainly didn’t know that a woman contributed considerably to its building.
After Emily’s husband, Wash, developed decompression sickness from working in high-pressure tanks and was unable to continue overseeing the project, she started managing it, first with his help, and later all by herself, when Wash’s health deteriorated even further. Emily had no formal engineering training but with her husband’s guidance and her formidable intellect, she succeeded in bringing the project to completion, despite all the hurdles and suspicions she faced as a woman.
Also, the Brooklyn Bridge was her husband’s dream, not hers. She was interested in the women’s suffrage movement and wanted to be a part of it but her involvement in the Brooklyn Bridge project didn’t leave her any time to pursue her dream. Only after the bridge was completed, which took more than a decade, she was able to pursue it.
I love books about women who challenge the patriarchy and found Emily’s story fascinating. From now on, every time I’ll see the iconic bridge, I’ll be thinking of her. I would highly recommend The Engineer’s Wife to all historical fiction fans and especially those who enjoy books about real-life outstanding women.
The Woman Behind The Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a masterpiece. I have seen the documentary about the building of the bridge so much of this story is not new to me. The efforts of the engineer’s wife were truly the reason the bridge was built. The author did a great job of sewing the pieces of this woman’s life together in a cohesive story. Although this biography is fictionalized, it is all completely believable. This book is well worth reading. Those who enjoy learning about the construction methods of the time will love this book. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
I found The Engineer’s Wife a compelling read. Those who enjoy historical fiction, or books with strong women characters will certainly be drawn to this well researched and richly drawn story of the family responsible for the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The story, covering the years 1864 – 1884, is told through the voice of Emily Warren Roebling, wife of Washington Roebling, who with his father John, designed and built the bridge. Emily is definitely an independent woman with a mind of her own. She chafes at the commonly held notion of a woman’s place and worth, and works with the women’s suffrage movement. Emily meets her future husband through her older brother, Major General G. K. Warren, a civil war hero (Captain Washington Roebling is Warren’s aide). Though wishing she had more time on her own before marriage, given the war situation and truly in love with Wash, she agrees to marry him when he proposes. It is the first, but not the last time she will set aside her wants and dreams to support his.
After the Civil War ends, Wash returns to the family business of building bridges. Eager to learn all she can about her husband’s work, Emily asks him to explain his project to her. Flattered by her interest, Wash enjoys teaching her about engineering and the various things that must be taken into consideration. Emily often hides at the work site to watch, listen, and better understand his days. As pressure surrounding the project escalates, Wash becomes consumed with his work to the detriment of his marriage. When he becomes disabled due to the effects of decompression sickness and confined to home, Emily becomes his messenger, carrying his instructions to the crew at the work site. Soon she is his eyes and ears, staying all day at the site with the workers.
Emily is a woman at odds with herself for giving up her own dreams to pursue the love and favor of a husband who is becoming ever more distant. With little acknowledgment from her husband or others for her efforts and sacrifices, and scorned for acting like a man (against the laws of the day), she fights an uphill battle to see that the bridge is completed and to repair her marriage.
Wood is skilled at transporting the reader to the place and time in which the book takes place. Her characters are very complex and interesting. The detailed information regarding building the bridge show the author’s meticulous research.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it to others. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions stated here are my own.