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A Blazing Gilded Age
A Blazing Gilded Age is the epic story of a volatile nation burning with ambition, yet bleeding with injustice. It was a time of profound change; boldly transforming from an agrarian backwater into an industrial powerhouse.
Center stage in this turbulent saga, are the Wozniaks; a poor coal mining family struggling to achieve the elusive American dream. Confronted by the evil ways of their ruthless and depraved boss, Archibald Desmond Huxley, the Wozniak family is thrust into utter turmoil, thus igniting a blazing journey of revenge and survival.
During the Wozniaks’ quest, the lavish lifestyle of Huxley and his fellow titans, including J.P. Morgan, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain and others, are woven into the story line, thus painting a broad and vivid canvas of 19th century America. Springing to life are legendary figures and historic events that accurately depict an era boiling with bravado, innovation and astounding progress, yet blistering with corporate greed, class warfare, and political corruption. After many unexpected twists of fate (some fortuitous and others heartbreaking), the Wozniaks emerge victorious, thus finally achieving the American dream, yet not without scars.
Both powerful and poignant, “A Blazing Gilded Age" serves as an entertaining and enlightening read of how and why America has gone astray, and why it became a world leader. While on a personal level, it imparts the harrowing, yet triumphant, tale of a family's struggle to survive in an age that, in many ways, was as dark and rough as coal, and, at times, could be as blazing as Hell.
Center stage in this turbulent saga, are the Wozniaks; a poor coal mining family struggling to achieve the elusive American dream. Confronted by the evil ways of their ruthless and depraved boss, Archibald Desmond Huxley, the Wozniak family is thrust into utter turmoil, thus igniting a blazing journey of revenge and survival.
During the Wozniaks’ quest, the lavish lifestyle of Huxley and his fellow titans, including J.P. Morgan, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain and others, are woven into the story line, thus painting a broad and vivid canvas of 19th century America. Springing to life are legendary figures and historic events that accurately depict an era boiling with bravado, innovation and astounding progress, yet blistering with corporate greed, class warfare, and political corruption. After many unexpected twists of fate (some fortuitous and others heartbreaking), the Wozniaks emerge victorious, thus finally achieving the American dream, yet not without scars.
Both powerful and poignant, “A Blazing Gilded Age" serves as an entertaining and enlightening read of how and why America has gone astray, and why it became a world leader. While on a personal level, it imparts the harrowing, yet triumphant, tale of a family's struggle to survive in an age that, in many ways, was as dark and rough as coal, and, at times, could be as blazing as Hell.
508 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Rich DiSilvio
22 books52 followersRich DiSilvio is an award-winning author of thrillers/mysteries, sci-fi/fantasy, historical fiction, nonfiction and children's books. He is a scholar of history with a lifetime of interests in ancient civilizations, European & American histories, biographies, architecture, art, music, science, and science fiction.
Throughout his professional life Rich has engaged several fields; having been an architectural designer, remodeler, artist, illustrator, new media developer, educational software programmer and writer.
He has provided creative services for films, cable TV shows and documentaries, such as James Cameron's "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," "Operation Valkyrie," "Blood Ties," "Monty Python," "Killing Hitler," and for music artists, such as Pink Floyd, Yes, Moody Blues, Elton John, Cher, Sheryl Crow, Queen, the Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper and many more.
Throughout his professional life Rich has engaged several fields; having been an architectural designer, remodeler, artist, illustrator, new media developer, educational software programmer and writer.
He has provided creative services for films, cable TV shows and documentaries, such as James Cameron's "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," "Operation Valkyrie," "Blood Ties," "Monty Python," "Killing Hitler," and for music artists, such as Pink Floyd, Yes, Moody Blues, Elton John, Cher, Sheryl Crow, Queen, the Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper and many more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 4, 2018
A Blazing Gilded Age was a magnificent historical fiction tale taking place in the late nineteenth century, roughly from the 1870's to 1900, and coming to life in the skillful hands of author Rich DiSilvio. This is one of the most vibrant, innovative and interesting times in the history of the United States and this book blazed through these years. We meet the Wozniak family, a Polish/Italian immigrant family, working in the coal industry of Pennsylvania where the issues of mine safety, child-labor laws, long hours and low wages quickly come to light. In sharp contrast to the fictional Wozniak family struggling to achieve the American dream, we see robber barons J P Morgan and Cornelius Vanderbilt as brought to light by Mark Twain. Teddy Roosevelt is woven into the narrative of Marcus Wozniak as he struggles to bring changes to the mining industry and hold his family together. Marcus Wozniak and his brother join Teddy Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War with his famed Rough-Riders. In this sweeping saga, there are inventors like Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla as well as the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893. This was also a period of unrest that witnessed the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. Rich DiSilvio is quite the storyteller as well as paying attention to detail such as the architecture, arts and music that are explored as well. Well done.
August 11, 2012
What a magnificent book!!! As soon as I started it, Rich DiSilvio's prose immediately grabbed me. The opening scene in the coal mine is so very touching and disturbing. When one thinks of the Gilded Age, one things of the Morgans, The Huxleys, the Vanderbilts,- yet this brilliantly written historical novel shows the other side- the millions of people- many of the children- who labored in horrific and dangerous situations, many dying- so that the Tycoons could live like Kings and the Industrial Revolution could transform America. I was greatly reminded of Upton Sinclair's immortal dexcription of the slaughterhouse in The Jungle when Mr. DiSilvio wrote about the child workers in the coal mines- some as young as 9, working for pennies and dying due to the utter lack of humanity and concern of those who owned and benefited from the horrors and deaths of the many.
In a very real sense- Mr. Dilsilvio shows in a truly brilliant manner- the "Rust"...human rust stained by blood, that was the real power behind the "Gilded" age. James Jones, who wrote FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, was an Army Grunt, and very much wanted his books to be from the perspective of those enlisted grunts like him, not the famed Generals who took credit and little person risk, A Blazing Gilded Age is very much the same- the reader is exposed to those who do not have Libraries and Foundations named after them, yet played a far more vital role, and dangerous, deadly and fruitless role in the Industrial Revolution that made America the superpower it became. It is about time!
I also loved the fact that sprinkled throughout the novel are historic figures, Teddy Roosevelt,the above mentioned Huxley (more interested in building mansions then all the children who died in his unsafe coal mines, Mark Twain, James Garfield, Testa ect and many other. These figures burst to life thanks to the narrative skills of a terrific writer. A very important book to read.
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
Rick Friedman
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
In a very real sense- Mr. Dilsilvio shows in a truly brilliant manner- the "Rust"...human rust stained by blood, that was the real power behind the "Gilded" age. James Jones, who wrote FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, was an Army Grunt, and very much wanted his books to be from the perspective of those enlisted grunts like him, not the famed Generals who took credit and little person risk, A Blazing Gilded Age is very much the same- the reader is exposed to those who do not have Libraries and Foundations named after them, yet played a far more vital role, and dangerous, deadly and fruitless role in the Industrial Revolution that made America the superpower it became. It is about time!
I also loved the fact that sprinkled throughout the novel are historic figures, Teddy Roosevelt,the above mentioned Huxley (more interested in building mansions then all the children who died in his unsafe coal mines, Mark Twain, James Garfield, Testa ect and many other. These figures burst to life thanks to the narrative skills of a terrific writer. A very important book to read.
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
Rick Friedman
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
June 21, 2016
A Blazing Gilded Age, set in the late nineteenth century, from 1870 to 1900, about the same time as the beginning to half through the second industrial revolution, is full of historical information from the side of those who were not capitalizing on it. We all know the Morgans, the Huxleys and the Vanderbilts and how they amassed such large fortunes.
What we haven't seen as much of though is the story Mr. DiSalvo gives us. The other side of the coin. The workers who toiled and died for a pittance of what their bosses were making.
The Wozniak family is a dirt poor family, trying to just make enough money to live on. Their own struggles mirror the struggles going on in our country at the same time period. They do not lead lives of glamour or excess. We all know those stories, as much has been written about the famous and the wealthy. Much less has been written about those who not only risked their lives for The Company, but in many cases died because of it. Children forced to lie about their age so they could go to work to help feed their families. Greed, corruption, inequality of pay for labor. It doesn't sound much different from today, does it?
This was a time of the poorest of the poor making the richest of the rich even more so, but not having any of the benefits. No decent wages, cruel working conditions and early deaths. This is a part of history most would rather not look at, but we need to now more than at any other time in our history.
Really great read!
I never expected to receive a history lesson with a story but there are quite a few historical figures on the pages.
What we haven't seen as much of though is the story Mr. DiSalvo gives us. The other side of the coin. The workers who toiled and died for a pittance of what their bosses were making.
The Wozniak family is a dirt poor family, trying to just make enough money to live on. Their own struggles mirror the struggles going on in our country at the same time period. They do not lead lives of glamour or excess. We all know those stories, as much has been written about the famous and the wealthy. Much less has been written about those who not only risked their lives for The Company, but in many cases died because of it. Children forced to lie about their age so they could go to work to help feed their families. Greed, corruption, inequality of pay for labor. It doesn't sound much different from today, does it?
This was a time of the poorest of the poor making the richest of the rich even more so, but not having any of the benefits. No decent wages, cruel working conditions and early deaths. This is a part of history most would rather not look at, but we need to now more than at any other time in our history.
Really great read!
I never expected to receive a history lesson with a story but there are quite a few historical figures on the pages.
May 30, 2017
A novel of the late 19th century, mainly set around Pittsburgh, and should be especially interesting to those who like historical fiction. The United States is not especially law-abiding, and the age of the robber baron has struck. Marc Wozniak is a 12 yr old child, the son of a Polish immigrant, and has been working in an anthracite mine for minimal wages for two years. Then one day, there is an explosion, and his father is killed. The twelve year old has to look after his mother and two elder brothers, one of whom is chair-bound due to another mining accident. The owner of the mine, Archibald Huxley is simply greedy, but not exceptionally bright. He is not prepared to spend money on making his mine safe and there are numerous explosions, dead miners, etc. We follow Marc as he grows up, gets out of the mine and acts as an accountant, and tries to save his drunken brother, who wants revenge on Huxley, and to save Huxley's mine. The book follows Marc through to just before WW 1, by which time the government is stating to rein in the robber barons. In short, we follow one man through the industrialization of the US, and where it became a world power.
The characterization is generally good for the major characters, although one wonders about Tasso, who seems to have no responsibility at all. The minor ones are just there. Some of the characters are real, thus Theodore Roosevelt and J P Morgan have relatively prominent parts, their characters are believable, but whether they are accurate I do not know. The setting is exceptionally clear, and makes you feel you know the age. The novel reads well, although there are places where a strand of story seems to be starting, but it goes nowhere. I would have preferred to see reasons why not. But all in all, this is a thought-provoking book that gives you something to think about unfettered capitalism. Something to think about gets my fifth star.
The characterization is generally good for the major characters, although one wonders about Tasso, who seems to have no responsibility at all. The minor ones are just there. Some of the characters are real, thus Theodore Roosevelt and J P Morgan have relatively prominent parts, their characters are believable, but whether they are accurate I do not know. The setting is exceptionally clear, and makes you feel you know the age. The novel reads well, although there are places where a strand of story seems to be starting, but it goes nowhere. I would have preferred to see reasons why not. But all in all, this is a thought-provoking book that gives you something to think about unfettered capitalism. Something to think about gets my fifth star.
September 21, 2018
Though it is a story of the Industrial Revolution, I found A Blazing Gilded Age to be very prescient for today’s political and social climate. On the surface, this is the story of the Wozniak family, Polish immigrants to America looking for opportunity and prosperity. At a deeper level this is the fictional equivalent of a treatise on capitalism, and it is fascinating.
Today, democratic socialism weaves a cautionary tale about the injustices wrought by capitalism. Yet our society affords opportunities to those with ideas and ambition that no other economic system can match. Both sides of this coin are on vivid display in A Blazing Gilded Age. In that respect, some may sadly become frustrated with this book because it doesn’t kowtow to one side or the other. As our society, abetted by social media, increasingly separates into polarized camps that believe differing opinions are hate speech, A Blazing Gilded Age is a refreshing slap in the face.
There is enough in this story for adherents on both sides of this debate to grab hold of as proof of their convictions. However, you can’t cherry-pick the facts; you must accept them all and decide accordingly. Everything devised by mankind, material or intellectual, is neither entirely virtuous nor purely evil. Any good thing can be twisted for nefarious purposes, just as good can arise from diabolical intentions. Such is the case for the Wozniak family.
The protagonist of the story is Marc Wozniak, the youngest child of a coal mining family in Pittsburgh, circa 1880. Forced into child labor in the mine to help his family make ends meet, Marc is witness to the injustices of capitalism. The owner of the mine, Archibald Huxley, is the embodiment of the greed and corruption it can breed. Through Marc’s experiences, A Blazing Gilded Age paints a vivid portrait of a great dichotomy with capitalism. Namely that while it allows a select gifted few to advance civilization for the masses, it also suppresses too many that are capable of doing more. A Blazing Gilded Age wrestles with this dichotomy as it superimposes the tribulations of the Wozniak family against the tremendous progress being made in society at large.
A Blazing Gilded Age is awash with the great innovators of the era and their ingenuity that has become ubiquitous in our culture today. Marc, though initially hampered by the injustices of capitalism, is able to use the opportunities it provides to rise out of the coal mines and provide a better life for his family and fellow miners. In so doing, we follow Marc as he interacts with the likes of J.P. Morgan, Theodore Roosevelt, Nikola Tesla, and a plethora of others. Through Marc we witness firsthand the new age of inventiveness made possible with capitalism, from major breakthroughs like the automobile and alternating current to signs of an increasing quality of life with the Ferris Wheel and Tootsie Roll.
The characters in this story, many of them real historical figures, engage in fictional debates over other very contentious issues. Has religion held back progress through the false doctrines of men not properly representing God? Are reparations for the confiscation of territory the sole responsibility of the white man? For example, the white man conquered the Black Hills territory from the Sioux, but the Sioux previously conquered it from the Cheyenne. So, if you believe reparations are owed, then from and to whom? This book does not shy away from issues with no easy answers and it doesn’t proffer any. It puts the questions to the reader through the interactions of the characters and leaves the reader to decide for themselves.
If you’ve read more than one of Mr. DiSilvio’s stories you will also be aware of his deep appreciation for classical music. A Blazing Gilded Age is no exception as we follow Marc to the concert hall to hear compositions by Franz Listz. One of Liszt’s compositions, in particular, foreshadows the life of one of Marc’s older brothers.
The perils of capitalism still exist today. They always will. Currently it is Amazon paying slave wages to some of its employees, or social media titans like Google controlling the news we get by politicizing their search engine algorithms. Capitalism will always require checks and balances, but I believe A Blazing Gilded Age ultimately shows that it is the best economic system yet devised by mankind. This is a very insightful and provocative book.
Today, democratic socialism weaves a cautionary tale about the injustices wrought by capitalism. Yet our society affords opportunities to those with ideas and ambition that no other economic system can match. Both sides of this coin are on vivid display in A Blazing Gilded Age. In that respect, some may sadly become frustrated with this book because it doesn’t kowtow to one side or the other. As our society, abetted by social media, increasingly separates into polarized camps that believe differing opinions are hate speech, A Blazing Gilded Age is a refreshing slap in the face.
There is enough in this story for adherents on both sides of this debate to grab hold of as proof of their convictions. However, you can’t cherry-pick the facts; you must accept them all and decide accordingly. Everything devised by mankind, material or intellectual, is neither entirely virtuous nor purely evil. Any good thing can be twisted for nefarious purposes, just as good can arise from diabolical intentions. Such is the case for the Wozniak family.
The protagonist of the story is Marc Wozniak, the youngest child of a coal mining family in Pittsburgh, circa 1880. Forced into child labor in the mine to help his family make ends meet, Marc is witness to the injustices of capitalism. The owner of the mine, Archibald Huxley, is the embodiment of the greed and corruption it can breed. Through Marc’s experiences, A Blazing Gilded Age paints a vivid portrait of a great dichotomy with capitalism. Namely that while it allows a select gifted few to advance civilization for the masses, it also suppresses too many that are capable of doing more. A Blazing Gilded Age wrestles with this dichotomy as it superimposes the tribulations of the Wozniak family against the tremendous progress being made in society at large.
A Blazing Gilded Age is awash with the great innovators of the era and their ingenuity that has become ubiquitous in our culture today. Marc, though initially hampered by the injustices of capitalism, is able to use the opportunities it provides to rise out of the coal mines and provide a better life for his family and fellow miners. In so doing, we follow Marc as he interacts with the likes of J.P. Morgan, Theodore Roosevelt, Nikola Tesla, and a plethora of others. Through Marc we witness firsthand the new age of inventiveness made possible with capitalism, from major breakthroughs like the automobile and alternating current to signs of an increasing quality of life with the Ferris Wheel and Tootsie Roll.
The characters in this story, many of them real historical figures, engage in fictional debates over other very contentious issues. Has religion held back progress through the false doctrines of men not properly representing God? Are reparations for the confiscation of territory the sole responsibility of the white man? For example, the white man conquered the Black Hills territory from the Sioux, but the Sioux previously conquered it from the Cheyenne. So, if you believe reparations are owed, then from and to whom? This book does not shy away from issues with no easy answers and it doesn’t proffer any. It puts the questions to the reader through the interactions of the characters and leaves the reader to decide for themselves.
If you’ve read more than one of Mr. DiSilvio’s stories you will also be aware of his deep appreciation for classical music. A Blazing Gilded Age is no exception as we follow Marc to the concert hall to hear compositions by Franz Listz. One of Liszt’s compositions, in particular, foreshadows the life of one of Marc’s older brothers.
The perils of capitalism still exist today. They always will. Currently it is Amazon paying slave wages to some of its employees, or social media titans like Google controlling the news we get by politicizing their search engine algorithms. Capitalism will always require checks and balances, but I believe A Blazing Gilded Age ultimately shows that it is the best economic system yet devised by mankind. This is a very insightful and provocative book.
January 16, 2019
Another history lesson served up under historical fiction by Rich DiSilvio. The last thirty years of the 19th century was a magnificent time to live a brutal life in the Pittsburgh metro area of the United States. A Blazing Gilded Age opens in Hellhole - A Huxley Coal Mine where Marcus Wozniak survives a deadly mine explosion but many friends and his father are killed. That tragedy sets the tone for this novel. It's a hard knock look at how most people lived and died in the time. A period of growth and prosperity for this country as a whole, it's just that the successes were built on the backs of folks like the Wozniaks.
The characterization in A Blazing Gilded Age is shy only of brilliance. The way these people spring to life from the pages, how you feel for them and grieve with them and celebrate with them, is not an easy task for a writer. DiSilvio has the gift. The addition of actual historic figures cements the reality of the story, despite it being fiction.
If you are looking for a sweeping, romantic look at history through rose colored glasses, move on. However, if you like a little grit in your reading, you will certainly enjoy Rich DiSilvio's A Blazing Gilded Age.
The characterization in A Blazing Gilded Age is shy only of brilliance. The way these people spring to life from the pages, how you feel for them and grieve with them and celebrate with them, is not an easy task for a writer. DiSilvio has the gift. The addition of actual historic figures cements the reality of the story, despite it being fiction.
If you are looking for a sweeping, romantic look at history through rose colored glasses, move on. However, if you like a little grit in your reading, you will certainly enjoy Rich DiSilvio's A Blazing Gilded Age.
March 18, 2014
The difference between history and fine historical novels
Wikipedia informs us, `In United States history, the Gilded Age is a period approximately spanning the final three decades of the nineteenth century; from the 1870s to 1900. The term was coined by writers Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873), satirizing what they believed to be an era of serious social problems disguised by a thin gold gilding. The Gilded Age was an era of rapid economic growth, especially in the North and West, but also much social conflict. American wages, especially for skilled workers, were much higher than in Europe, which attracted millions of immigrants. The increase of industrialization meant, despite the increasing labor force, real wages in the US grew 60% from 1860 to 1890, and continued to rise after that. However, the Gilded Age was also an era of poverty as very poor European immigrants poured in. Railroads were the major industry, but the factory system, mining, and labor unions also increased in importance. Two major nationwide depressions known as the Panic of 1873 and the Panic of 1893 interrupted growth.' And then we open the pages of this hefty volume by Rich DiSilvio written about this era and finally we understand it.
Rich DiSilvio, a man as committed to music, art, philosophy and sociology as informed by the fine arts, takes this period of history with all of the fascinating changes, discoveries, triumphs and failures and by introducing fictional characters within the stage setting of this era makes it far more credible. We see so much better through the eyes of witnesses than through the most sophisticated lenses of modern technology. And in DiSilvio's handling of the parallel or concurrent unraveling of historical events with those of the Wozniak family he provides not only keen insight but also pauses for the inclusion of the arts, so often ignored by other historical novel writers.
His style is compelling, jolting in the manner in which he lays open old wounds of our making we had hoped would somehow heal without medicaments, and at the same time infuses a gentle tenderness in his depiction of `common man' so far below the gleam of the gilt of this gilded age. This is a magnificent epic novel, one that will be always with us - and hopefully in the classrooms of students who so desperately need to understand our true history.
Wikipedia informs us, `In United States history, the Gilded Age is a period approximately spanning the final three decades of the nineteenth century; from the 1870s to 1900. The term was coined by writers Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873), satirizing what they believed to be an era of serious social problems disguised by a thin gold gilding. The Gilded Age was an era of rapid economic growth, especially in the North and West, but also much social conflict. American wages, especially for skilled workers, were much higher than in Europe, which attracted millions of immigrants. The increase of industrialization meant, despite the increasing labor force, real wages in the US grew 60% from 1860 to 1890, and continued to rise after that. However, the Gilded Age was also an era of poverty as very poor European immigrants poured in. Railroads were the major industry, but the factory system, mining, and labor unions also increased in importance. Two major nationwide depressions known as the Panic of 1873 and the Panic of 1893 interrupted growth.' And then we open the pages of this hefty volume by Rich DiSilvio written about this era and finally we understand it.
Rich DiSilvio, a man as committed to music, art, philosophy and sociology as informed by the fine arts, takes this period of history with all of the fascinating changes, discoveries, triumphs and failures and by introducing fictional characters within the stage setting of this era makes it far more credible. We see so much better through the eyes of witnesses than through the most sophisticated lenses of modern technology. And in DiSilvio's handling of the parallel or concurrent unraveling of historical events with those of the Wozniak family he provides not only keen insight but also pauses for the inclusion of the arts, so often ignored by other historical novel writers.
His style is compelling, jolting in the manner in which he lays open old wounds of our making we had hoped would somehow heal without medicaments, and at the same time infuses a gentle tenderness in his depiction of `common man' so far below the gleam of the gilt of this gilded age. This is a magnificent epic novel, one that will be always with us - and hopefully in the classrooms of students who so desperately need to understand our true history.
March 12, 2014
Thanks to goodreads.com and author Rich DiSivio, I finally was able to read this novel. Yes, it took quite some time, reading it amongst other books for a class I am taking as well as books previously ordered via the library that are 7-day or 21 day books; but, this book took the longest time because I felt compelled to research a great deal of what the author had written. I did not do this because I didn’t believe in the historical aspects of this novel, I did so because there were obscure facts and conversations throughout the novel that I wanted to check for accuracy. I was determined to locate a flaw in the historical research; after all, the conversations held in this book were just simply too believable; but, I am happy to state, accurate.
The story begins with a poor Polish immigrant family, whose lives have been forever changed due to shoddy and inept safety measures in a Pennsylvania coal mine (late mid 1800’s) and leads the reader from that point in time through Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidency. It also takes the reader’s through the lives of four brothers, through disability and a family’s shame through a life filled with the bittersweet. It is an absolute awesome read and makes me desperate to get my hands on DiSilvio’s other novels. This is definitely a 5 star book.
Thanks so much Rich!!!!! (and thanks to goodreads too.)
The story begins with a poor Polish immigrant family, whose lives have been forever changed due to shoddy and inept safety measures in a Pennsylvania coal mine (late mid 1800’s) and leads the reader from that point in time through Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidency. It also takes the reader’s through the lives of four brothers, through disability and a family’s shame through a life filled with the bittersweet. It is an absolute awesome read and makes me desperate to get my hands on DiSilvio’s other novels. This is definitely a 5 star book.
Thanks so much Rich!!!!! (and thanks to goodreads too.)
July 18, 2017
Rich DiSilvio shows again his talent as a writer in A Blazing Gilded Age: Episodes of an American Family and a Volatile Era. It is an amazing book, well-written, well-paced, with good characters and a plotline that allow us to emerge in the 19th century America.
The Wozniak family will lead us into the dark pages of American history when the immigrants’ dreams are shattered so easily and the USA is not always the land of opportunities. Rising to the top is not easy and violence becomes part of the world in order to reach the top. Wozniak family meets with some of the most important historical figures from the 19th century: from Theodore Roosevelt to Mark Twain, from J.P. Morgan to Buffalo Bill, they all make an appearance that allows us the readers to have a better understanding of this historical period.
DiSilvio’s puts in full display his amazing story-telling skills showing a remarkable portrait of the USA, filled with historical details. Highly recommended!
The Wozniak family will lead us into the dark pages of American history when the immigrants’ dreams are shattered so easily and the USA is not always the land of opportunities. Rising to the top is not easy and violence becomes part of the world in order to reach the top. Wozniak family meets with some of the most important historical figures from the 19th century: from Theodore Roosevelt to Mark Twain, from J.P. Morgan to Buffalo Bill, they all make an appearance that allows us the readers to have a better understanding of this historical period.
DiSilvio’s puts in full display his amazing story-telling skills showing a remarkable portrait of the USA, filled with historical details. Highly recommended!
September 23, 2017
A Blazing Gilded Age by Rich DiSilvio is a talented writer. His characters both big and small came alive on the pages. The plot was deep, heartfelt, and thorough. History mixed in with fiction. Made this a new favorite. America wasn't always great...a lot of bad went with the good. Here, inside this tale, I got to explore the depth in which Americans suffered. Suffered for survival. Power, greed, corruption and progress we're just several themes mentioned in the book.
One particular family of low class is mentioned in great detail. They're not famous. They work like slaves. Slaving for the bigger guys. Hard labor, suffering, and agnogy just to make a few pennies to survive...barely surviving. A Blazing Gilded Age is dark, haunting, and heartbreaking. Child labor, poverty, and loss are featured here in great detail. I felt like I traveled back in time to the late 19th century. Overall, Rich DiSilivio's latest book is a must read for all. I highly recommend it.
One particular family of low class is mentioned in great detail. They're not famous. They work like slaves. Slaving for the bigger guys. Hard labor, suffering, and agnogy just to make a few pennies to survive...barely surviving. A Blazing Gilded Age is dark, haunting, and heartbreaking. Child labor, poverty, and loss are featured here in great detail. I felt like I traveled back in time to the late 19th century. Overall, Rich DiSilivio's latest book is a must read for all. I highly recommend it.
July 25, 2018
A look into the gilded age that I wasn’t expecting
A Blazing Gilded Age: Episodes of an American Family in a Volatile Era by Rich DiSilvio is a fictional story which takes place in the 1880s to early 1900s America, also known as the gilded age. The story follows the Wozniak family, who are Polish immigrants working in the coal mines in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DiSilvio did an amazing job of conveying the real trials, struggles and triumphs of the family as they lived through as they worked toward the American dream. The book really is enlightening on what it was like before child labor laws and women had rights, immigrants pretty much worked barely making anything in hopes of someday making their own American dream come true. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American history or even just looking for a fantasy tic read. It was a bit long to get through, so not just a Sunday afternoon read but it was worth every second.
A Blazing Gilded Age: Episodes of an American Family in a Volatile Era by Rich DiSilvio is a fictional story which takes place in the 1880s to early 1900s America, also known as the gilded age. The story follows the Wozniak family, who are Polish immigrants working in the coal mines in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DiSilvio did an amazing job of conveying the real trials, struggles and triumphs of the family as they lived through as they worked toward the American dream. The book really is enlightening on what it was like before child labor laws and women had rights, immigrants pretty much worked barely making anything in hopes of someday making their own American dream come true. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American history or even just looking for a fantasy tic read. It was a bit long to get through, so not just a Sunday afternoon read but it was worth every second.
May 24, 2017
Rich DiSilvio has a unique way of bringing history to life. In A Blazing Gilded Age, Rich takes the era of the 19th century while America is just getting off her feet in the industrial world. We are just becoming a self supporting country and many mistakes are being made along the way.
This novel centers on a cold hearted coal mine owner, whose self importance and arrogance is slowing wrapping a noose around his neck. While a young man, Marc, is now learning what it will take to be the man of the family since the mines took his father’s life.
Although this book is fictional, there are many historical facts and characters that give this book an exceptional bonus. My favorite part of this book is when Archibald Huxley met Mark Twain. Rich keeps Mark Twain in character with a quick wit and simple understanding.
This novel centers on a cold hearted coal mine owner, whose self importance and arrogance is slowing wrapping a noose around his neck. While a young man, Marc, is now learning what it will take to be the man of the family since the mines took his father’s life.
Although this book is fictional, there are many historical facts and characters that give this book an exceptional bonus. My favorite part of this book is when Archibald Huxley met Mark Twain. Rich keeps Mark Twain in character with a quick wit and simple understanding.
December 1, 2012
Can hardly wait to read this book.. Thank you for the free first reads book of your book. I am so looking forward to reading it.....
Blazing yes... it is it.. This book has you from the very first page, with every piece of history that Rich DiSilvio has placed in the book.
He follows a family during the coal industry, and brings into the picture JP Morgan, Mark Twain, Teddy Roosvelt and many more.
This book is one that you just can't put down until you get to the end of it. And I am so looking forward to his next book.
Once again I thank the author for free first reads copy and signed booked. I believe that you are love history or are interested in history in the least little bit this is the book for you.
Awesome!!! Just Awesome !!!
Blazing yes... it is it.. This book has you from the very first page, with every piece of history that Rich DiSilvio has placed in the book.
He follows a family during the coal industry, and brings into the picture JP Morgan, Mark Twain, Teddy Roosvelt and many more.
This book is one that you just can't put down until you get to the end of it. And I am so looking forward to his next book.
Once again I thank the author for free first reads copy and signed booked. I believe that you are love history or are interested in history in the least little bit this is the book for you.
Awesome!!! Just Awesome !!!
November 25, 2012
This novel is terrific. I didn't want to put it down, but had to because it was so big! I absolutely love how the family's story is intertwined with historical events and people. Very entertaining and factual. I learned so much while I was reading this and it amazes me how much of history has repeated itself in this day and age. Our current leaders really could learn some lessons by looking back. I received this book as a gift!
December 26, 2017
Wow this novel was so intriguing! This is so well-written and thought out. This story is told by Rich DiSilvio. Who has a wonderful way with words that made the story flow so well. I just could not put it down.
This book is set in 19th century, mainly around Pittsburgh. This is really interesting especially if you like historical fiction like I do. During this time The United States is not really law-abiding, and this is the age of the robber baron. Marc is a 12 yr old kid, the son of a Polish immigrant. And even at this young age has had to get a job. He has been working in a mine for next to nothing for two years. Then all of a sudden there is an explosion and his dad is killed. Now he not only has to take care of himself but his mother and two older brothers. And the bad thing is one is chair-bound due to mining accident. The owner of the mine, Archibald is a greedy man, but not that smart. He is not willing to spend the money to make his mine safe and there are more explosions, killing more miners. We follow Marc as he grows up, gets out of the mine and becomes an accountant. Now he just has to save his drunken brother who wants revenge on Huxley. All this takes place just as war is world war one is near. Let’s hope he can figure it all out in time to save his family.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too
This book is set in 19th century, mainly around Pittsburgh. This is really interesting especially if you like historical fiction like I do. During this time The United States is not really law-abiding, and this is the age of the robber baron. Marc is a 12 yr old kid, the son of a Polish immigrant. And even at this young age has had to get a job. He has been working in a mine for next to nothing for two years. Then all of a sudden there is an explosion and his dad is killed. Now he not only has to take care of himself but his mother and two older brothers. And the bad thing is one is chair-bound due to mining accident. The owner of the mine, Archibald is a greedy man, but not that smart. He is not willing to spend the money to make his mine safe and there are more explosions, killing more miners. We follow Marc as he grows up, gets out of the mine and becomes an accountant. Now he just has to save his drunken brother who wants revenge on Huxley. All this takes place just as war is world war one is near. Let’s hope he can figure it all out in time to save his family.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too
July 28, 2018
Di Silvio's rich and detailed description of the events of the Industrial age amidst the era of coal as the primary source of energy leaves very little to the imagination. Phasing this period through the eyes of the fictional family of Jezred Wozniak , Di Silvio describes what it means to go after the American Dream during the period.
The Wozniak family experience a tragedy in the loss of their father and breadwinner of the family, due to a heinous coal mining accident. Before his death, he places the responsibility of the home and achieving the dream in the hands of his youngest son and jewel of the family, Marcus. A Blazing Gilded Age describes the suffering, sorrow, apathy, courage, resilience, and finally, victory of a family, during this period, with a sprinkling of some real-life characters along the way, to spice up the narrative.
Di Silvio’s knowledge and research into this period is very impressive, and is kudos to an author who aims to give his best in his writings.
I entirely thought that sometimes, the description could be too vivid and detailed – and that took away some points that could have added to the lure of the book. However, if you want to learn about the Industrial period in a real, graphic, “it seems you were actually there” manner, you can do no better than A Blazing Gilded Age.
The Wozniak family experience a tragedy in the loss of their father and breadwinner of the family, due to a heinous coal mining accident. Before his death, he places the responsibility of the home and achieving the dream in the hands of his youngest son and jewel of the family, Marcus. A Blazing Gilded Age describes the suffering, sorrow, apathy, courage, resilience, and finally, victory of a family, during this period, with a sprinkling of some real-life characters along the way, to spice up the narrative.
Di Silvio’s knowledge and research into this period is very impressive, and is kudos to an author who aims to give his best in his writings.
I entirely thought that sometimes, the description could be too vivid and detailed – and that took away some points that could have added to the lure of the book. However, if you want to learn about the Industrial period in a real, graphic, “it seems you were actually there” manner, you can do no better than A Blazing Gilded Age.
May 31, 2017
Rich DiSilvio shows off his impressive knowledge of American history in the industrial age in this story. By using the device of following the lives of a dirt poor family of immigrants, he depicts life for those struggling to attain the American Dream. There is a lot of historical name-dropping; such icons as Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, Nikola Tesla and Buffalo Bill are part of this story, as hero Marc ascends from lowly coal miner, through the ranks of American society purely down to his own talents and expertise. At times, I felt that the author’s encyclopaedic knowledge of history got in the way as he feels inclined to explain every last detail that he knows. In fact, at times I felt that I was teaching my class of 11 years old about the industrial age. As an example the mining accident at the beginning of the book contains just too much detail of the horrors of each particular job. The job of historical fiction is to whet the appetite to learn more, not to deliver a series of lectures.
August 1, 2017
Everytime I opened this book I had old wild west music playing in my head. The story centers around the Woznik’s family, a Polish family, working mines in order to achieve the American dream. Overall I loved the writing. The author does such a good job setting the scene and bringing you back into history. It is all very believable.
I enjoy historical fiction but this one did such a great job at not only entertaining but explaining history. I do think there were a bit to many famous historical cameos. But it did so in an interesting way, it tied the whole story and history together.
What I enjoyed most about the story was how honest it portrayed the American dream and achieving wealth. There is the belief that as long as you work hard you will become wealthy. But there is so much sacrifice and work that goes beyond being “hard”. At times you are going to have to sacrifice a lot. It is not as easy as we would like to think. Even back in the 19th century.
I enjoy historical fiction but this one did such a great job at not only entertaining but explaining history. I do think there were a bit to many famous historical cameos. But it did so in an interesting way, it tied the whole story and history together.
What I enjoyed most about the story was how honest it portrayed the American dream and achieving wealth. There is the belief that as long as you work hard you will become wealthy. But there is so much sacrifice and work that goes beyond being “hard”. At times you are going to have to sacrifice a lot. It is not as easy as we would like to think. Even back in the 19th century.
April 30, 2018
Despite the pictures of historical figures on the cover, this is not a non-fiction tale. This book is fiction but has a few historical figures and facts woven into the story which helps the authenticity of the 19th century setting. This book was very enjoyable! The Wozniak family are the main characters and the reader follows them through their struggles during this era. Mines, societal issues of the late 19th century, suspense, Mark Twain, death, mystery, child labor, and hardships of this era make for a story that captured my attention for the entirety of the book. The plot and setting are perfect and the writing is really good- minus a few misspelled words, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. An interesting and educational story of America and its inhabitants in the late 19th century.
July 19, 2017
A historical 19th century exploration of the gilded age
This is a good story about a poor immigrant family struggling to make it while the mine owner and boss attempts to destroy the dream they are trying to build. A journey through an American time when the industrial age was blooming and a wide array of characters are in this story. The struggle with a family looking for revenge while meeting some of the greats from this particular time in American history. Good story with some mystery and suspense. Check it out and tell me what you think.
This is a good story about a poor immigrant family struggling to make it while the mine owner and boss attempts to destroy the dream they are trying to build. A journey through an American time when the industrial age was blooming and a wide array of characters are in this story. The struggle with a family looking for revenge while meeting some of the greats from this particular time in American history. Good story with some mystery and suspense. Check it out and tell me what you think.
September 13, 2017
This is very different than other historical novels that I’ve read. I realize it’s fiction, but the characters were great, and many you’ll recognize from history. There’s a perfect blend of story-telling and hard facts of life, in general. It’s everyone’s truth, in a way. Lessons are learned, sacrifices are made and the main characters, the Wozniak family, show us just how real the struggles were back in the late 19th century. Rich DiSilvio is very good at what he does, and I'm ready to read more of his work.
August 25, 2012
In the years following the American Civil War, the United States entered into a period of rapid industrial and technological growth that transformed the country. This period dubbed the Gilded Age, by Mark Twain, saw the unrestricted growth of big business accompanied by the accumulation of wealth, at unprecedented levels, by captains of commerce. As changes in America began to accelerate, citizens began to feel that anything was possible with hard work and ingenuity. An influx of immigrants, eager to share in this American dream, contributed to the nation's transformation from agricultural society to industrial giant. Author Rich DiSilvio captures this volatile period in America's history accurately and entertainingly in his latest novel, A Blazing Gilded Age.
The main characters in DiSilvio's work are members of the Wozniak family. This Polish/Italian family is very much representative of the millions of immigrants who came to America with a burning desire to build a better life for themselves and for their children. In the process of seeking their fortunes in a new world, these immigrants would help their adopted country become the most powerful and technologically advanced nation in the world.
A Blazing Gilded Age follows the Wozniak family through tragedy and triumphs, from poverty to riches. The author uses this engaging story of the Wozniak family to paint a clear and historically accurate picture of life during this turbulent time in our nation's history. Along the way DiSilvio brings to life several famous figures in history including several U.S. Presidents, inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill Cody and industrial tycoons Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan, among others.
Aside from a fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable drama, A Blazing Gilded Age offers its readers an abundance of American history that is sadly either brushed over, if not completely ignored, in today's school textbooks. DiSilvio gives us insight into such dramatic events as the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and the near assassination of Teddy Roosevelt. The Spanish American War and particularly, the Rough Riders charge of San Juan Hill, are told in a brilliant narrative style that will appeal to even those readers who claim history as their least favorite subject in school.
A Blazing Gilded Age brings to the forefront the social issues that plagued this era. These social issues were the byproducts of pure capitalism free from government regulation. The author does an admirable job of drawing parallels to today's world. Readers should have little trouble relating to many of the ills of the time, especially in light of the damage to our present day economy caused by giant corporations motivated solely by greed. DiSivio appropriately quotes Mark Twain: "Get Money, Get it quickly, Get it in abundance, Get it Dishonestly if you can, honestly if you must." The Gilded Age saw incredible fortunes made by corporate giants at the expense of worker safety, horrible working conditions, and child labor. DiSilvio's story illustrates the struggle to correct these social injustices as well as the efforts of Progressive Presidents like Roosevelt.
A Blazing Gilded Age is a must read for anyone with even a mild interest in American history but the story itself is so entertaining and exciting that everyone will enjoy it. Readers will connect with the story's well developed characters and they will walk away from this novel with a clear vision and understanding of this crucial era in the life of our country. I highly recommend A Blazing Gilded Age as a novel that provides readers with both, entertainment and education, in ample doses.
Michael Gandolfo
Palm Harbor, Florida
The main characters in DiSilvio's work are members of the Wozniak family. This Polish/Italian family is very much representative of the millions of immigrants who came to America with a burning desire to build a better life for themselves and for their children. In the process of seeking their fortunes in a new world, these immigrants would help their adopted country become the most powerful and technologically advanced nation in the world.
A Blazing Gilded Age follows the Wozniak family through tragedy and triumphs, from poverty to riches. The author uses this engaging story of the Wozniak family to paint a clear and historically accurate picture of life during this turbulent time in our nation's history. Along the way DiSilvio brings to life several famous figures in history including several U.S. Presidents, inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill Cody and industrial tycoons Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan, among others.
Aside from a fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable drama, A Blazing Gilded Age offers its readers an abundance of American history that is sadly either brushed over, if not completely ignored, in today's school textbooks. DiSilvio gives us insight into such dramatic events as the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and the near assassination of Teddy Roosevelt. The Spanish American War and particularly, the Rough Riders charge of San Juan Hill, are told in a brilliant narrative style that will appeal to even those readers who claim history as their least favorite subject in school.
A Blazing Gilded Age brings to the forefront the social issues that plagued this era. These social issues were the byproducts of pure capitalism free from government regulation. The author does an admirable job of drawing parallels to today's world. Readers should have little trouble relating to many of the ills of the time, especially in light of the damage to our present day economy caused by giant corporations motivated solely by greed. DiSivio appropriately quotes Mark Twain: "Get Money, Get it quickly, Get it in abundance, Get it Dishonestly if you can, honestly if you must." The Gilded Age saw incredible fortunes made by corporate giants at the expense of worker safety, horrible working conditions, and child labor. DiSilvio's story illustrates the struggle to correct these social injustices as well as the efforts of Progressive Presidents like Roosevelt.
A Blazing Gilded Age is a must read for anyone with even a mild interest in American history but the story itself is so entertaining and exciting that everyone will enjoy it. Readers will connect with the story's well developed characters and they will walk away from this novel with a clear vision and understanding of this crucial era in the life of our country. I highly recommend A Blazing Gilded Age as a novel that provides readers with both, entertainment and education, in ample doses.
Michael Gandolfo
Palm Harbor, Florida
November 13, 2015
A superb and blazing new American classic!
As the title purports, this novel is indeed a blazing story about the Gilded Age. DiSilvio takes us back to a very dynamic and pivotal time in American history, and he packs it with interesting characters, action, suspense, dark secrets, conflict, murder, tons of factual history and much more. Most importantly, this book was fun, easy to read, and very educational. And to nail all three is no easy task, especially in this genre.
As the subtitle suggests, this novel is a series of episodes in the lives of an American family and of this volatile era. Disilvio does a superb job of merging these two elements together, and I soon found myself immersed in the Gilded Age, as well as in the lives of a rich cast of characters (both imagined and real).
The Wozniaks are a poor coal-mining family in Pittsburgh that face some very tough and horrific situations, primarily from their ruthless boss, Archibald Huxley. And how each member of the family confronts his torments varies, making it very believable, and keeps the tension and interest going. And the last few episodes are gripping page-turners not to be missed! But how DiSilvio worked these fictional characters into a series of historical settings was not only clever but endlessly fascinating, and here is where we get to truly learn about the Gilded Age.
How can any American not love reading about Teddy Roosevelt, or J.P. Morgan, Mark Twain, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Tesla and others that appear to come alive? And when they say history repeats itself you can really understand how true that is by reading this novel. I don't wish to give away any details, but the stories of Presidents Garfield, McKinley, Chester Arthur and others were real eye openers. We also get to learn about some bad laws, the need for new laws, the deplorable status and abuse of women, their struggle for equality, some great inventions, a national quest for greatness, and so much more.
Therefore anyone interested in American history and a good fictional story of a family's struggles to achieve the American dream will really enjoy this unique novel. DiSilvio hit another home run! Highly recommended!
As the title purports, this novel is indeed a blazing story about the Gilded Age. DiSilvio takes us back to a very dynamic and pivotal time in American history, and he packs it with interesting characters, action, suspense, dark secrets, conflict, murder, tons of factual history and much more. Most importantly, this book was fun, easy to read, and very educational. And to nail all three is no easy task, especially in this genre.
As the subtitle suggests, this novel is a series of episodes in the lives of an American family and of this volatile era. Disilvio does a superb job of merging these two elements together, and I soon found myself immersed in the Gilded Age, as well as in the lives of a rich cast of characters (both imagined and real).
The Wozniaks are a poor coal-mining family in Pittsburgh that face some very tough and horrific situations, primarily from their ruthless boss, Archibald Huxley. And how each member of the family confronts his torments varies, making it very believable, and keeps the tension and interest going. And the last few episodes are gripping page-turners not to be missed! But how DiSilvio worked these fictional characters into a series of historical settings was not only clever but endlessly fascinating, and here is where we get to truly learn about the Gilded Age.
How can any American not love reading about Teddy Roosevelt, or J.P. Morgan, Mark Twain, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Tesla and others that appear to come alive? And when they say history repeats itself you can really understand how true that is by reading this novel. I don't wish to give away any details, but the stories of Presidents Garfield, McKinley, Chester Arthur and others were real eye openers. We also get to learn about some bad laws, the need for new laws, the deplorable status and abuse of women, their struggle for equality, some great inventions, a national quest for greatness, and so much more.
Therefore anyone interested in American history and a good fictional story of a family's struggles to achieve the American dream will really enjoy this unique novel. DiSilvio hit another home run! Highly recommended!
August 1, 2012
In this historical novel Rich DiSilvio traces an important era in our history through the experiences of a single family. In doing so he outlines many of the social, cultural, and political issues that highlighted late 19th Century America and, in many ways, continue today.
The beginning of the book almost seems like a "Grapes of Wrath" for coal miners. One tragedy after another haunts an immigrant mining family: with injury, death, child labor, and other injustices, placing the Wozniak family in a constant state of despair. Just as the Judd family was stuck in the endless pattern of poverty in Steinbeck's novel, the Wozniak family is a victim of child exploitation, poor workplace safety, low pay, and rules which make it near impossible to break away from the corporate oppression of the day. However the youngest son Marc emerges as the bright and ambitious "savior" who vows to keep the family together. His rise from a nine year old coal miner to company owner involves not only family interactions, but a constant battle with the ruthless mine owner Archibald Desmond Huxley. In the journey we meet many of the star players of the "Gilded Age." It is through these historical characters, both fictional and real, that we get a glimpse into the thought processes of the rich and powerful.
Many of the key issues broached in this novel are still debates as we approach the 2012 election. Does society pay a price when the gap between the rich and poor gets to be too great? To what extent should businesses be regulated when it comes to the environment, wages, and workplace safety? What should be the role of government, if any, in balancing the playing field?
In an entertaining way Rich DiSilvio helps us get a personal view of the struggles and obstacles facing a family that was, unfortunately, typical of pre-progressive era America. If you love a good story, and want so insight into this important era, I would highly recemmend "A Blazing Gilded Age."
The beginning of the book almost seems like a "Grapes of Wrath" for coal miners. One tragedy after another haunts an immigrant mining family: with injury, death, child labor, and other injustices, placing the Wozniak family in a constant state of despair. Just as the Judd family was stuck in the endless pattern of poverty in Steinbeck's novel, the Wozniak family is a victim of child exploitation, poor workplace safety, low pay, and rules which make it near impossible to break away from the corporate oppression of the day. However the youngest son Marc emerges as the bright and ambitious "savior" who vows to keep the family together. His rise from a nine year old coal miner to company owner involves not only family interactions, but a constant battle with the ruthless mine owner Archibald Desmond Huxley. In the journey we meet many of the star players of the "Gilded Age." It is through these historical characters, both fictional and real, that we get a glimpse into the thought processes of the rich and powerful.
Many of the key issues broached in this novel are still debates as we approach the 2012 election. Does society pay a price when the gap between the rich and poor gets to be too great? To what extent should businesses be regulated when it comes to the environment, wages, and workplace safety? What should be the role of government, if any, in balancing the playing field?
In an entertaining way Rich DiSilvio helps us get a personal view of the struggles and obstacles facing a family that was, unfortunately, typical of pre-progressive era America. If you love a good story, and want so insight into this important era, I would highly recemmend "A Blazing Gilded Age."
December 31, 2013
"A Blazing Gilded Age" is a fascinating look at the United States through the eyes of the Wozniak's, a family that is just trying to make a better life for themselves in the Pennsylvania coal mines. The late 1800s and early 1900s were a really interesting time in America. The world was changing incredibly quickly. This book features some of the big names of the times including one of my favorites, Teddy Roosevelt. This is a good story about the American dream.
I love a good family story and this book definitely fits the bill. The Wozniaks definitely struggle throughout the book. American society is no easy place for an immigrant family during that time period. I liked the sons. I thought the author did a good job of making the Wozniak children feel very different. They each had very different personalities. My favorite character in this book was probably the mother of the family, Sophia. I love strong characters and she is definitely one. She had a lot of courage and a lot of guts even when things looked really bad for her and her family.
The writing in the book was ok. It was a little choppy and there were places where I thought it could be streamlined a little bit. There were some places where the characters told a little bit more than they needed to, which bogged down the story somewhat but overall, the writing felt quite promising.
I love a good family story and this book definitely fits the bill. The Wozniaks definitely struggle throughout the book. American society is no easy place for an immigrant family during that time period. I liked the sons. I thought the author did a good job of making the Wozniak children feel very different. They each had very different personalities. My favorite character in this book was probably the mother of the family, Sophia. I love strong characters and she is definitely one. She had a lot of courage and a lot of guts even when things looked really bad for her and her family.
The writing in the book was ok. It was a little choppy and there were places where I thought it could be streamlined a little bit. There were some places where the characters told a little bit more than they needed to, which bogged down the story somewhat but overall, the writing felt quite promising.
August 12, 2012
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The book is very well written. The author portrays several important real historical figures from the Gilded age. I really enjoyed the portrayal of the presidents in this book. Other prominent historical figures such as JP Morgan are also included. Another nice touch is the inclusion of historical details such as : tootsie rolls, coke, etc. A lot of little historical tid bits are included as well. The author has assembled all of these historical figures well. I look forward to reading more historical fiction by this author in the near future.
December 28, 2015
Author Rich Disilvio captures and portrays the unique nature of 19th century through the plot and setting of "A Blazing Gilded Age" in a way that is often hard to come by in the historical fiction genre. The style of the prose particularly stood out to me early on in the book; it is executed near-perfectly which in turn gives the read a page-turner feel from front to back and this combined with the unique. As well as this, many of the scenes are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking and I found myself thinking about them long after finishing the book.
July 15, 2012
Received this book for free on first reads. I really enjoyed this book, and I am not a huge history buff.
October 5, 2013
Great characters, great history, a great read! You really cannot put this book down.
January 12, 2019
Wonderfully well written and the merging of real and fictional characters was amazingly well done. Truly enjoyed the writing style, but there were a few places that were a little slow and boring. The Buffalo Bill gets my nod as well as Tesla, Roosevelt, Mark Twain, these are some of my real n life favorite icons, and it really made the book special to me.
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