Every disaster has a backstory, none more thrilling than this one. Set
during the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, this page-turning
tale of political corruption, vendettas, romance, rescue—and murder—is
based on recently uncovered facts that forever change our understanding
of what really happened. Told by a feisty young reporter, Annalisa
Passarelli, the novel paints a vivid picture of the Victorian-era city,
from the mansions of Nob Hill to the underbelly of the Barbary Coast to
the arrival of tenor Enrico Caruso and the Metropolitan Opera. Central
to the story is the ongoing battle—fought even as the city burns—that
pits incompetent and unscrupulous politicians against a coalition of
honest police officers, newspaper editors, citizens, and a lone federal
prosecutor. With the appeal and texture of The Alienist, Carter
Beats the Devil, and the novels of E. L. Doctrow, James
Dalessandro weaves unforgettable characters and actual events into a
compelling epic. Movie rights to the novel have been bought by Barry
Levinson/SpringCreek Productions/Warner Brothers. The movie will
enter pre-production soon.
6 x 9 in; 364 pp;
$24.95 Hardcover
ISBN 0811843130
Published in March, 2004
copyright
© 2004 by James Dalessandro
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