Banished Children of Eve: A Novel of Civil War New York

by Peter Quinn

On the eve of the Union army's military draft, an opportunistic Irish-American hustler, a scheming Yankee stockbroker, a beautiful mulatto musical comedy star, and her minstrel lover come together during the Draft Riots. Reprint.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, New York, Civil War, American Civil War, Irish Literature, American History

624 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2008

About the author

Peter Quinn is the author of the novel Banished Children of Eve (winner of an American Book Award) and previously served as speechwriter for New York governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. A third-generation New Yorker whose granparents were born in Ireland, he is currently Editorial Director for Time Warner and lives in Hastings, New York.

Reviews

[Rochelle Schwab · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the author of a historical novel that is also set during the Civil War, I was blown away by the magnificently researched depiction of the times in The Banished Children of Eve. It’s hard to believe that author Peter Quinn was not actually alive in 1863, and a witness to New York during the Civil War: to the newly built mansions and to the shanty towns, to the concert saloons and orphanages, to the theaters and the railway cars which were switched from steam engines to horsepower when entering downtown streets. He has written a novel grand in its scope, and one that left me with a significantly greater understanding of the economic unfairness that lay behind the New York City Draft Riots. I had actually included a scene in my own novel depicting the murderous attacks on black men, women and children – even on the Colored Orphan Asylum - by white mobs of predominantly Irish immigrants. But I hadn't truly understood the cruelty of the economic system that literally starved poor Irish families, thus pitting impoverished white immigrants against similarly impoverished blacks for jobs that paid a mere pittance. The poor were kept at each others' throats – and out of banding together in unions – while no one but the Robber Barons profited.

The novel is richly populated with characters both poor and rich, from freed blacks to recent immigrants, and from various walks of society, both fictional characters and real historical ones, such as beloved composer Stephen Foster. But just as the reader is becoming invested in any particular character, the narrative shifts to a flashback of his or her father, mother or great grandparents or to another character altogether. This is not a book for readers who want a tightly plotted story, and it can make for some slow reading. But for those who want a panoramic picture of the times and the great city beset by riots over the passage of the Civil War draft law, it excels.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Banished Children of Eve" is an intricate box gorgeously wrapped, but what's inside doesn't quite live up to the package.

Peter Quinn does a stellar job of scene-setting in this large novel of 1863 New York leading up to the Civil War draft riots, the book's centerpiece. He puts you there: sights, sounds, smells; grit, filth, lawlessness, chaos, bigotry. The research and scene-setting feels masterful, really.

But ultimately this thickness of atmosphere plays a role in making it not the success it should be. The detail is great, but too great. The book (more than 600 pages) is rather slow and there's not enough story. It's a series of scene-setting pieces, parts of the tapestry involving a host of different characters, including real-life, famous ones. But there's a bit too much history and not enough heart (or art) to make this the brilliant book it should have been.

The lavish detail turns languorous, to the book's detriment. Quinn can write, and certainly research, but a better pace and a better interweaving of characters and story would have been welcome.

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave it a try, but just couldn't stay with it. Perhaps I'll try again one day

[Melinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't get into books that start this slow. Maybe it will get better, but I'm not interested in sticking around to find out.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5)
It's a wonder how great books find a person..this one sought me out at a thrift shop and virtually leaped into my hands..how could I resist a novel about the New York during the Civil war, after devouring Kevin Baker's Paraidse Alley and being swept away by Martin Scorcese's film, Gangs of New York ? (both of which I recommend as background reading/viewing. Without "Gangs of New York "as a primer, Butcher Bill Poole would have been just a name to me). Quinn has written an epic saga of the growing pains of New York and of the Irish immigrant experience during the maelstrom of the draft riots in 1863,when a lottery to supplement Father Abraham's army was initiated, a match which lit the tinder box of relations between Irish and Negroes, between the wealthy and the destitute. He has based his novel on real life characters and created fictional ones which seem just as complex and fully fleshed as their historical counterparts. The research that went into this tale is staggering and the full flavor of the times bursts thru on every page. All of the characters(a bit many to keep track of and it would have been helpful to have a list in the front, my only complaint ) are all memorable in their own right: Jimmy Dunne ,a neer do well petty criminal who aspires to bigger and better scores; Stephen Foster; the drunken icon of American popular music ("Oh susanna", "I dream of Jeannie", "My Old Kentucky HOme"), desperate to find a new tune in his befuddled head; Eliza, a light skinned Black woman trying to pass as an "exotic" so she can reach the stage in Uncle Tom's Cabin and get away from the brothel; Margaret, an innocent Irish house maid working like a dog in the home of an overly ambitious and somewhat seedy employer,Charles Bedford, who loses his fortune to gambling and runs afoul of the gang lords,looking for payback; to name just a few.Then there's Jack Mulvaney, the king of the minstrels,an immigrant from the famine years desperate to rise about the muck, who becomes the black-faced darling of the stage during a time when minstrel shows were hot entertainment and when it was hard to tell who was lower on the social caste scale, the blacks or the Irish. Quinn reminds us vividly of the suffering of the "have nots",who in their search for a better life, were pitted against one another and provides timely reading for our own era,in which xenophobia and fear of the outsider are still raging like a fever.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time.As the great grand daughter of an Irish woman, who came "over on the boat", I have new eyes and ears for the struggles and prejudices she must have endured and a heightened awareness for all those desperate to "make it" in the USA. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a hearty helping of the real history of America.

[Tova · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book, which is a shame because, in theory, it should be right up my alley as a massive historical fiction fan. Having to read a 600-page book while trying to survive a 2 and half week bout with the flu for school, and understand it was not the vibe. Admittedly, I did skim-read the entire book, but that was the only way I could make myself consume the story. I liked Margaret's storyline, which is why it's a 2-star book and not a 1-star. I'm sure that if I were reading this book under different circumstances, I might have been able to appreciate it more, but it was not for me, and that is okay. I made it through, and now I can read more enjoyable things!

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very long, ambitious attempt at a “total” historical novel set in NYC and centered on the Draft Riots but also how fhe US was changing due to immigration, urban growth, industrial expansion etc. Multiple intertwined characters (fictional and real; the Stephen Foster portrayal is excellent and the cameo appearance of George McClellan is devastating) embody the various factions and classes: Irish, Black, the old aristocracy vs new entrepreneurs, police and military etc. It’s best on race, both a very good portrayal of Black resistance as well as the racism of everyone else. It has a very sharp depiction of the ironies of black face minstrely. The Irish tend to be a bit more stereotyped. It’s too sprawling though with too many characters, stories and genealogies as well as too many explanatory dialogues to recapitulate the social issues. I think the stories kind of ran away from Quinn.

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting, well written, book that gave me insight into the Civil war times in New York City. I never knew about the disinterest of New Yorker during the war and the hate against the Irish. The author weaves the stories into a fun tapestry of stories that all weave together.

[Eamon Loingsigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bright-eyed writer, a noir-ish Irisher that grew up in an NYC orphanage who lies himself out of pickles, a mixed race actress, a housemaid, a minstrel, an Irish cop turned Republican... All of these characters and hundreds more float throught the city under the awning of Brooks Brothers, riding ferries to Brooklyn, drinking bathtub whiskey in dark dives and just trying to survive in a city in 1863 where the police are more corrupt than the politicians and the citizens must learn to scam to make their meals. Never trusting anyone along the way. Shyster lawyers, shylocks and soliciting whores with big hearts and open legs offer high-interest loans or a quick jerk to travelling sailors and anyone down in the shit. Blade Runner in reverse, America flailing in racism, sexism and with no guarantee that the city will ever survive its burning during the draft riots and the war between police forces and the spreading of sypholus and the enforcement of gang territories. Banished Children of Eve has facts. Researched by the powerfully knowledgable Peter Quinn, NYC historian and grandchild of Famine Irish himself. Pick it up. It will never be forgotten.

Eamon

[Jeff Gillenkirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of historical novels but this is "right there." Tremendously engaging story of early Irish immigrant culture in NYC against the confusion and tragedy of the Civil War (did you know much of New York was against fighting the war?). A very enjoyable, challenging and informative piece of historical fiction. The amount of research that went into this effort is astonishing, as is the amount one learns of Irish-american and civil war history. Highly recommended.

[Mary Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a long tedious book! Some of the factual information is interesting, but there is way too much of it, in excruciating detail. Some characters are meant to anchor the plot, but they don't. They aren't interesting or sympathetic enough. The book wanders back and forth in time, confusingly. Many loose ends. My biggest takeaway is how racist the Irish were in 1860's NYC.

[Wow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic glimpse into a period of New York history in which the facts start to get blurry. As a product of the now commonly fetishized 1970's and 1980's New York, I read a lot about that era, but this was an interesting look at a New York that is just barely recognizable. For example, having grown up downtown, the street names were just familiar enough that I could recall various landmarks and just barely trace characters' paths. I am not sure how this would work for someone not as familiar with New York geography and it would have been nice for them to include a map that was actually printed legibly.

Some of the characters were deeply compelling, the ones with hardscrabble backstories more than others. The details of the period are incredibly vivid and immersive, even if characters sometimes seem like they're doing a little too much exposition. Quinn takes on a lot by choosing to include so many different perspectives, and the fictional characters, for reasons that seem logical, are more imaginatively drawn than the real ones. Still, it's hard to tell who's fictional and who's real, which is a testament to his ability to seamlessly blend them. We often hear more about the backstories of the characters than their eventual fates, to the point of it sometimes becoming difficult to keep track of who's saying what, what time period we're in (the past, the past-past or the past-past-past?) and which people are going to be important later on.

I almost think this book would have read the same to me with all fictional characters (and it may have been more trim that way too), but I guess it's nice to have certain characters like Stephen Foster that "plug" directly into history.

I am too far removed from my Irish immigrant ancestors for the stories of Ireland to have any particular effect on me, and some of the passages on Catholicism felt kind of obscure. But I suppose they were useful for demonstrating the trials of the Irish and the history of oppression that pitted them against another oppressed group – African Americans.

[Scott Pomfret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dense historical depicts New York City in 1863 during the days leading up to and including the vicious largely Irish-immigrant-led riots against conscription into the armed forces during the Civil War. Quinn perhaps goes overboard in trying to cram historical detail into the narrative, which brings the pace to a jolting halt every once in a while. That said, he nevertheless creates an almost palpable glimpse of New York, which has the energy of today but far more brutal expressions of it. Chunks of the book are from the perspective of different sorts of New Yorkers (and certain historical figures) that very loosely intertwine. I can't say that Quinn caused me to feel any great sympathy with his characters, but they were all interesting, if only from a historical perspective. The novel made me suspect that the actual history might be even more compelling and I am off to find the non-fiction version.

[Margaret Capozzolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with any historical fiction, it was the reader's task to differentiate fact from fiction, so I spent many days catching up on people and events I should have learned about in high school. The "real" people included Stephen Foster, General Wool, and Mayor Fernando Wood. But the character I found most intriguing and worthy of further study is John Hughes, first archbishop of New York and the force behind St. Patrick's Cathedral and Fordham University. Though Irish himself, Quinn did not spare the Irish when it came to describing the vileness of their actions before and during the Draft Riots. But like Archbishop Hughes, the author understands the sources that lead to the degradation of the Irish of the diaspora. In the course of retelling the story in a fictional setting, Quinn demonstrates his understanding of how the fight for a foothold on the bottom rung of the ladder led to an animosity toward black Americans that is still in evidence today amongst many Irish-Americans conservatives with names like Bannon, O'Reilly, and Hannity.

[Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good novel, reminiscent of Doctorow's "March" and "Ragtime," in the way it moves between different characters (both fictional and drawn from real life) to show a full panorama of life during the Civil War in New York City. It's also clear that the author did extensive historical research, because the world he builds feels so alive and real. It's definitely a version of New York City that I hadn't seen depicted before, and it definitely diverges from typical novels or other forms of fiction set during the Civil War.

I will say, it's very uncomfortable to read a book written by a white man where the "n word" is used so frequently. Historical accuracy doesn't require its usage. It's fiction! You can have your characters say whatever they want! For a white author to use the word, and to use it in such an explicitly racist manner, feels like someone who knows it's wrong to say but feels like they found a loophole to say it. I would hope if this book were written now by the same author that this wouldn't happen, but I'm unwilling to say "well, it was written at a different time" because it was published in the 1990s. Quinn should have known better. All of this also goes for focusing part of the novel on a minstrel character.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, this is a good read, but even if you're not, it's an engrossing novel that's worth checking out.

[Lynda Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really tried to love this book. I had to start it twice and finally completed it today ( I actually skimmed the last 30 page or so--just couldn't keep reading any longer). The book was too long. I loved learning the history of New York during this period of history--history that I had never known about. Unfortunately, there were too many characters to keep track of and the details got overwhelming after awhile. I did give it 3 stars because I enjoyed the history lesson.

[Kathleen Meyer]

Detailed and intriguing look at NYC during the Civil War. The lives of various characters are interwoven throughout the book so the reader needs to keep track of characters' names when they first appear. History of the interaction of the Irish immigrants and African-American slaves and free gives a good understanding of the period.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A
Monumental work of historical fiction filled with true stories and the people who inhabited them. The story of NYC DRAFT RIOTS, based on events of the Civil War. President Lincoln had ordered a lottery to increase the troops but you could buy your way out for $300. Possibly the lowest point of the history of the Irish in America ever told

[Sean Keating · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult book to follow. I didn’t like it. Hard to follow the different story lines( of which there were too many). The chapters were too wordy. Too many times a chapter starts with one theme and transitions to another.
I was hoping more historical stories

[John Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dense book that is excellent if you are interested in the Draft Riots, Tammany, the Irish and America, and civil war era class + race relations.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn's amazing book tells the stories of various New Yorkers involved and swept up in the Draft Riots of 1863. From the poor Irish live-in maids to a mulatto actress to a wealthy American businessman who built himself up from nothing, what truly makes this book beautiful, powerful, and captivating is Quinn's eloquent and simple ability to tell each individual's tale. At least half of the book is spent following each character from their birthplace (some in New Jersey, some the South, many from Ireland) to the nitty gritty, hustle and bustle, dog eat dog world that was, and is, New York City. In doing so, Quinn reveals the human side of those that seem most depraved, and the beast within the supposedly civilized, and vice versa. A wonderful read that will keep the reader glued to the page from start to finish while making many historical figures, and even more of the unnamed millions, come to life and expose a light to history that most contemporary readers were previously unaware of. Anyone who loves history, a good story about people, or is simply looking for a good read, I recommend this book highly.

[Kyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might not have stuck with this if I had not been trapped without reading options on a family visit where everyone else endlessly watched television. Very slow start but gradually the plot, the writing and the characters snared me. Scalpeens and booly dogs abound - the period detail is amazing - historical characters like Stephen Foster and Civil War general Zook (yep, Zook!) mix in with the fictional characters seamlessly. Terrific book once you get through the ponderously slow first 250 pages. And I am SO glad I don't live in New York - didn't live in New York - am nowhere near New York. :)

[Norma Wine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and carefully researched novel set in the turbulent days leading up to the American Civil War. Quinn captures the oppression caused by poverty, crime, anti-immigrant and racist attitudes which erupted into chaos in the city of New York. You think New York City is a tough place now? If you have an interest in the subject, this book does a better job of depicting this time and place than did Martin Scorcese's Gangs of New York. (Sorry Marty).

[Sherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author gives his readers plenty of characters and all with sufficient history. Overall it was a good read about the New York draft riots in 1863, but there were times when the details got in the way of the fluidity of the story. All quite well researched and interesting characters, carrying their cumbersome history wherever they went . One question I had,of what importance was the character of Stephen Foster that he made it into this story?

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected or hoped for. While the character development was satisfactory, the plot read too much like a series of short stories. Most disappointing was that it may have been Civil War Era, but it was not Civil War. I guess I'm glad that I read it. I would have preferred a more connected plot and would liked to have learned a lot more about the time.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating book told through multiple characters. It gives a gripping and historically accurate view of New York during the Civil War but the war isn't the focus or the Civil War is not the war that is describe in the book. Very good!

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything a great historical novel should be - atmosphere, a mix of real and fictional stock characters, compelling plot, and a fast pace. Also, excellent insight into the Civil War Draft Riots in NYC.

[Tfp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Quinn's meticulous research embodies his characters with realism so powerful, the reader can smell the sweat and blood of the New York City draft riots of1863. Mainstream history books don't contain or won't publish essential details of America's past.

[Karen]

The Civil War has just entered its third bloody year and the North is about to impose its first military draft, a decision that in New York City will spark the most devastating and destructive riot in American history.

[Jdoh318418]

Great overview of 19c NYC w special attention to the Irish and the role of the Catholic Church