A wonderful reimagining of the life of Emily Roebling who helped her husband in the design and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The book was well written with a good pace, I enjoyed reading it.

I never knew the Brooklyn Bridge was built under the supervision of a woman. And it was interesting to see how Emily didn’t want to be put into the live that society dictated for woman and showed her intellect and strenght .

I did find the story to drag at times. The building scenes were long and at times slowed the tempo of the book.

This book detailed a subject that is not told often in historical fiction - the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. The story follows a bridge engineer, Wash Roebling, and his wife Emily as they experience the ups and downs of living in the Civil War era while trying to construct a bridge no one has seen before. The subject matter and historical components were very interesting; however, it was a bit difficult to connect with the characters and their personal stories. I would give it a strong 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Roebling's husband's desire to build bridges knows no limits and sadly, his greatest bridge design will also be his biggest challenge. The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge contained obstacles no one could predict and also paved the way for construction and engineering methods used today. In a show of force to protect her husband's reputation, Emily runs messages from his bedside, studies engineering and learns to stand up to what has been a man's world. Even her days of fighting for women's suffrage could not prepare her for what she would face in a male-dominated world of engineering, construction and government. Her relationship with P.T. Barnum is one that bolsters and threatens to tear down her reputation and the completion of the very project she gave up much of her life to see built. Well written historical fiction in the "woman behind the great man" style that we all love so much. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #SourcebooksLandmark for a digital ARC of this book!

The Engineer' Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood follows the true story of Emily Warren Roebling's life as she supported her husband's drive to complete the Brooklyn Bridge. Designed by his father, Washington Roebling was appointed as chief engineer to complete the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. However, he became ill during the construction so his wife Emily Roebling took on his duties as much as she could in the 1870's.

This story is remarkable for women's rights, the Civil War, American architecture. Wood identifies the areas of fiction at the end of her book. The reader will enjoy how much of the story is actually true. Look for #TheEngineersWife on 4.7.2020.

THE ENGINEER'S WIFE
BY TRACEY ENERSON WOOD

I love historical fiction because I learn something new with each book I read in this genre. What I find confounding at times is when the author deviates from the facts and includes fictitious character's and narratives to make the storytelling more interesting. For instance we have all heard of P.T. Barnum who at the time this story takes place during the 1860's and 1870's was one of the richest men in the world or at least New York City. In the author's acknowledgements section she says that our fascinating heroine Emily Warren Roebling never had an emotional affair with P. T. Barnum. But woven throughout the story Emily is in love with P.T. Barnum and he with her. I think if a writer of historical fiction invents dialogue that never happened then that is acceptable. But personally, after reading just under 400 pages of a romance that never happened or even their friendship such as when Emily recruits P.T. Barnum's advice and help on public speaking when she has to address the board on the Brooklyn Bridge it feels like I have falsely believed an interesting anecdote of history that never happened I feel almost led astray for no good reason.

Emily Warren is introduced to Washington Roebling from her brother G.K. Warren during the civil war and they get married and have one child named John Roebling II after papa who is Washington's dad named John Roebling. To connect Brooklyn with Manhatten the Brooklyn Bridge needed to be built. It was John, Sr.'s idea but Emily's husband Washington designs it. It is mostly Emily's story about how she started out as a translator and messenger for her husband Washington who because he gets the crippling disease of Caisson's he is unable to make it to the job site while they are still constructing the Brooklyn end of the bridge.

Caisson's disease is brought on from being underwater in a basin type enclosure that has pressurized air pumped in through the bottom of the chamber that the men were in lowered to the hardest shelf of rock or granite that supports the bridge under water. Symptoms are headache, involuntary movement of the eyes and a stiffening of the muscles, joints and tissue. Because Wash couldn't be at the bridge he dictated to Emily instructions which she would pass on to the other engineer and the masons. Because women couldn't vote until 1920 they were expected to wear heavy corsets underneath their dresses which weighed them down in the water. Emily started wearing pantaloons but she was still disparaged by the other men since she was prohibited from going to law school and had no equal rights that the men enjoyed. This was a pretty interesting story that is based on fact but way too long and way too much medical and scientific and even technological details even from back then. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

#NetGalley #TraceyEnersonWood #SourcebooksLandmarks #TheEngineer'sWife
THE ENGINEER'S WIFE
BY TRACEY ENERSON WOOD

I love historical fiction because I learn something new with each book I read in this genre. What I find confounding at times is when the author deviates from the facts and includes fictitious character's and narratives to make the storytelling more interesting. For instance we have all heard of P.T. Barnum who at the time this story takes place during the 1860's and 1870's was one of the richest men in the world or at least New York City. In the author's acknowledgements section she says that our fascinating heroine Emily Warren Roebling never had an emotional affair with P. T. Barnum. But woven throughout the story Emily is in love with P.T. Barnum and he with her. I think if a writer of historical fiction invents dialogue that never happened then that is acceptable. But personally, after reading just under 400 pages of a romance that never happened or even their friendship such as when Emily recruits P.T. Barnum's advice and help on public speaking when she has to address the board on the Brooklyn Bridge it feels like I have falsely believed an interesting anecdote of history that never happened I feel almost led astray for no good reason.

Emily Warren is introduced to Washington Roebling from her brother G.K. Warren during the civil war and they get married and have one child named John Roebling II after papa who is Washington's dad named John Roebling. To connect Brooklyn with Manhatten the Brooklyn Bridge needed to be built. It was John, Sr.'s idea but Emily's husband Washington designs it. It is mostly Emily's story about how she started out as a translator and messenger for her husband Washington who because he gets the crippling disease of Caisson's he is unable to make it to the job site while they are still constructing the Brooklyn end of the bridge.

Caisson's disease is brought on from being underwater in a basin type enclosure that has pressurized air pumped in through the bottom of the chamber that the men were in lowered to the hardest shelf of rock or granite that supports the bridge under water. Symptoms are headache, involuntary movement of the eyes and a stiffening of the muscles, joints and tissue. Because Wash couldn't be at the bridge he dictated to Emily instructions which she would pass on to the other engineer and the masons. Because women couldn't vote until 1920 they were expected to wear heavy corsets underneath their dresses which weighed them down in the water. Emily started wearing pantaloons but she was still disparaged by the other men since she was prohibited from going to law school and had no equal rights that the men enjoyed. This was a pretty interesting story that is based on fact but way too long and way too much medical and scientific and even technological details even from back then. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

#NetGalley #TraceyEnersonWood #SourcebooksLandmarks #TheEngineer'sWife
THE ENGINEER'S WIFE
BY TRACEY ENERSON WOOD

I love historical fiction because I learn something new with each book I read in this genre. What I find confounding at times is when the author deviates from the facts and includes fictitious character's and narratives to make the storytelling more interesting. For instance we have all heard of P.T. Barnum who at the time this story takes place during the 1860's and 1870's was one of the richest men in the world or at least New York City. In the author's acknowledgements section she says that our fascinating heroine Emily Warren Roebling never had an emotional affair with P. T. Barnum. But woven throughout the story Emily is in love with P.T. Barnum and he with her. I think if a writer of historical fiction invents dialogue that never happened then that is acceptable. But personally, after reading just under 400 pages of a romance that never happened or even their friendship such as when Emily recruits P.T. Barnum's advice and help on public speaking when she has to address the board on the Brooklyn Bridge it feels like I have falsely believed an interesting anecdote of history that never happened I feel almost led astray for no good reason.

Emily Warren is introduced to Washington Roebling from her brother G.K. Warren during the civil war and they get married and have one child named John Roebling II after papa who is Washington's dad named John Roebling. To connect Brooklyn with Manhatten the Brooklyn Bridge needed to be built. It was John, Sr.'s idea but Emily's husband Washington designs it. It is mostly Emily's story about how she started out as a translator and messenger for her husband Washington who because he gets the crippling disease of Caisson's he is unable to make it to the job site while they are still constructing the Brooklyn end of the bridge.

Caisson's disease is brought on from being underwater in a basin type enclosure that has pressurized air pumped in through the bottom of the chamber that the men were in lowered to the hardest shelf of rock or granite that supports the bridge under water. Symptoms are headache, involuntary movement of the eyes and a stiffening of the muscles, joints and tissue. Because Wash couldn't be at the bridge he dictated to Emily instructions which she would pass on to the other engineer and the masons. Because women couldn't vote until 1920 they were expected to wear heavy corsets underneath their dresses which weighed them down in the water. Emily started wearing pantaloons but she was still disparaged by the other men since she was prohibited from going to law school and had no equal rights that the men enjoyed. This was a pretty interesting story that is based on fact but way too long and way too much medical and scientific and even technological details even from back then. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

#NetGalley #TraceyEnersonWood #SourcebooksLandmarks #TheEngineer'sWife
THE ENGINEER'S WIFE
BY TRACEY ENERSON WOOD

I love historical fiction because I learn something new with each book I read in this genre. What I find confounding at times is when the author deviates from the facts and includes fictitious character's and narratives to make the storytelling more interesting. For instance we have all heard of P.T. Barnum who at the time this story takes place during the 1860's and 1870's was one of the richest men in the world or at least New York City. In the author's acknowledgements section she says that our fascinating heroine Emily Warren Roebling never had an emotional affair with P. T. Barnum. But woven throughout the story Emily is in love with P.T. Barnum and he with her. I think if a writer of historical fiction invents dialogue that never happened then that is acceptable. But personally, after reading just under 400 pages of a romance that never happened or even their friendship such as when Emily recruits P.T. Barnum's advice and help on public speaking when she has to address the board on the Brooklyn Bridge it feels like I have falsely believed an interesting anecdote of history that never happened I feel almost led astray for no good reason.

Emily Warren is introduced to Washington Roebling from her brother G.K. Warren during the civil war and they get married and have one child named John Roebling II after papa who is Washington's dad named John Roebling. To connect Brooklyn with Manhatten the Brooklyn Bridge needed to be built. It was John, Sr.'s idea but Emily's husband Washington designs it. It is mostly Emily's story about how she started out as a translator and messenger for her husband Washington who because he gets the crippling disease of Caisson's he is unable to make it to the job site while they are still constructing the Brooklyn end of the bridge.

Caisson's disease is brought on from being underwater in a basin type enclosure that has pressurized air pumped in through the bottom of the chamber that the men were in lowered to the hardest shelf of rock or granite that supports the bridge under water. Symptoms are headache, involuntary movement of the eyes and a stiffening of the muscles, joints and tissue. Because Wash couldn't be at the bridge he dictated to Emily instructions which she would pass on to the other engineer and the masons. Because women couldn't vote until 1920 they were expected to wear heavy corsets underneath their dresses which weighed them down in the water. Emily started wearing pantaloons but she was still disparaged by the other men since she was prohibited from going to law school and had no equal rights that the men enjoyed. This was a pretty interesting story that is based on fact but way too long and way too much medical and scientific and even technological details even from back then. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

#NetGalley #TraceyEnersonWood #SourcebooksLandmarks #TheEngineer'sWife
THE ENGINEER'S WIFE
BY TRACEY ENERSON WOOD

I love historical fiction because I learn something new with each book I read in this genre. What I find confounding at times is when the author deviates from the facts and includes fictitious character's and narratives to make the storytelling more interesting. For instance we have all heard of P.T. Barnum who at the time this story takes place during the 1860's and 1870's was one of the richest men in the world or at least New York City. In the author's acknowledgements section she says that our fascinating heroine Emily Warren Roebling never had an emotional affair with P. T. Barnum. But woven throughout the story Emily is in love with P.T. Barnum and he with her. I think if a writer of historical fiction invents dialogue that never happened then that is acceptable. But personally, after reading just under 400 pages of a romance that never happened or even their friendship such as when Emily recruits P.T. Barnum's advice and help on public speaking when she has to address the board on the Brooklyn Bridge it feels like I have falsely believed an interesting anecdote of history that never happened I feel almost led astray for no good reason.

Emily Warren is introduced to Washington Roebling from her brother G.K. Warren during the civil war and they get married and have one child named John Roebling II after papa who is Washington's dad named John Roebling. To connect Brooklyn with Manhatten the Brooklyn Bridge needed to be built. It was John, Sr.'s idea but Emily's husband Washington designs it. It is mostly Emily's story about how she started out as a translator and messenger for her husband Washington who because he gets the crippling disease of Caisson's he is unable to make it to the job site while they are still constructing the Brooklyn end of the bridge.

Caisson's disease is brought on from being underwater in a basin type enclosure that has pressurized air pumped in through the bottom of the chamber that the men were in lowered to the hardest shelf of rock or granite that supports the bridge under water. Symptoms are headache, involuntary movement of the eyes and a stiffening of the muscles, joints and tissue. Because Wash couldn't be at the bridge he dictated to Emily instructions which she would pass on to the other engineer and the masons. Because women couldn't vote until 1920 they were expected to wear heavy corsets underneath their dresses which weighed them down in the water. Emily started wearing pantaloons but she was still disparaged by the other men since she was prohibited from going to law school and had no equal rights that the men enjoyed. This was a pretty interesting story that is based on fact but way too long and way too much medical and scientific and even technological details even from back then. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

#NetGalley #TraceyEnersonWood #SourcebooksLandmarks #TheEngineer'sWife
THE ENGINEER'S WIFE
BY TRACEY ENERSON WOOD

I love historical fiction because I learn something new with each book I read in this genre. What I find confounding at times is when the author deviates from the facts and includes fictitious character's and narratives to make the storytelling more interesting. For instance we have all heard of P.T. Barnum who at the time this story takes place during the 1860's and 1870's was one of the richest men in the world or at least New York City. In the author's acknowledgements section she says that our fascinating heroine Emily Warren Roebling never had an emotional affair with P. T. Barnum. But woven throughout the story Emily is in love with P.T. Barnum and he with her. I think if a writer of historical fiction invents dialogue that never happened then that is acceptable. But personally, after reading just under 400 pages of a romance that never happened or even their friendship such as when Emily recruits P.T. Barnum's advice and help on public speaking when she has to address the board on the Brooklyn Bridge it feels like I have falsely believed an interesting anecdote of history that never happened I feel almost led astray for no good reason.

Emily Warren is introduced to Washington Roebling from her brother G.K. Warren during the civil war and they get married and have one child named John Roebling II after papa who is Washington's dad named John Roebling. To connect Brooklyn with Manhatten the Brooklyn Bridge needed to be built. It was John, Sr.'s idea but Emily's husband Washington designs it. It is mostly Emily's story about how she started out as a translator and messenger for her husband Washington who because he gets the crippling disease of Caisson's he is unable to make it to the job site while they are still constructing the Brooklyn end of the bridge.

Caisson's disease is brought on from being underwater in a basin type enclosure that has pressurized air pumped in through the bottom of the chamber that the men were in lowered to the hardest shelf of rock or granite that supports the bridge under water. Symptoms are headache, involuntary movement of the eyes and a stiffening of the muscles, joints and tissue. Because Wash couldn't be at the bridge he dictated to Emily instructions which she would pass on to the other engineer and the masons. Because women couldn't vote until 1920 they were expected to wear heavy corsets underneath their dresses which weighed them down in the water. Emily started wearing pantaloons but she was still disparaged by the other men since she was prohibited from going to law school and had no equal rights that the men enjoyed. This was a pretty interesting story that is based on fact but way too long and way too much medical and scientific and even technological details even from back then. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

#NetGalley #TraceyEnersonWood #SourcebooksLandmarks #TheEngineer'sWife

I was blown away with this beautifully written piece of historical fiction. It felt truly transported to Brooklyn in the last half of the 1800's completely emerged in the culture and class distinction of that time period. I learned so much about the architect and building of the Brooklyn bridge and the imperative roll that Emily Warren Roeblings played in its completion. The factual elements were woven together seamlessly with historical accounts of Emily life and enhanced by creative liberates with the daily to do's of life.

This novel did have a strong political undercurrent and some fairly pointed comments about women who chose to stay in the home and aspire to raise families. Ultimately Emily won me over and I was beyond impressed with her drive, determination, attitude, and compassion. Congratulations to Tracey Emerson Wood on penning what I am sure will become a well loved classic.

4.2 stars for this poignant period piece. Rating of 14A due to sexual content.

***contains spoilers***

This tale of Emily Warren Roebling, daughter-in-law of the Brooklyn Bridge designer and wife to its chief engineer, was fun to read. Learning about the history of the bridge, some of the technical details, and Wash and Emily's romance all came together in a sweet swirl of fiction. The marital problems and loneliness the Roeblings experience, including miscommunications and a hint of depression, are something that most people who have ever been married can relate to. Emily's struggle against the preconceived notions about women at the time - and how she blew them out of the water - was particularly admirable. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Historical fiction is a genre I generally like to read, with two exceptions: I don't like overt, descriptive sex in books, and I don't like political "preaching" at the reader. Unfortunately, this book contained both, and I was admittedly a little disappointed. To be fair, the sex was minimal and mostly tasteful. The political preaching mostly came in the form of the tired caricaturization of women who devote themselves 100% to raising a family, and the mistaken notion that this work just isn't important as compared to other goals outside the home. I wasn't thrilled with the main character's emotional affair with PT Barnum, either. That being said, my favorite takeaway was the beautiful advice one of Emily's mom's friends gives her about marriage. First of all, I appreciated Emily's resolve to talk to an older woman and actually ask for that advice in the first place. The advice itself - that when things get rough, essentially "just keep swimming" until you reach the other side of the rough waves - was SO GOOD and not at all where I thought the author was going to go. I LOVED that after all of the will-they-or-won't-they tension with PT, Emily ultimately chose the love of her life, and recognized that she was better for it.

***I was given an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.***

Initially, I chose this book based on the title, The Engineer's Wife, as I am also the wife of an engineer.

The author, Tracey Enerson Wood, filled the book with actual historical facts and occurrences, interspersed with fiction - love, family issues, health issues. In the Afterword, the author labels many of the pertinent events in the book as fiction or non-fiction. I learned more about the Brooklyn Bridge than I ever knew; learned more about life in that period than I ever knew.

Not only was I fascinated by the story of Emily Warren Roebling's difficult but successful effort to follow the plans of her late father-in-law, along with instructions from her ill husband, to build the Brooklyn Bridge, even when she had no training or education in engineering. I also found the book to be quite inspirational and a lesson in keeping a marriage together and honoring a commitment, when other than having taken a vow, there's not much else holding a husband and wife together.

I judge a book based on how hard it is for me to put it down. I found myself trying to knit and cook, while also trying to read this book. I would wake up during the night wanting to read one more chapter. Therefore, I highly recommend The Engineer's Wife.

Many thanks to Net Gally (netgally.net) and Sourcebooks Landmark for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion about the book.

The Engineer’s Wife is a fascinating historical account of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Research done is excellent. Tracey Emerson Wood’s tale makes you feel like you are living right there during every step of the grueling years taken to build this famous iconic New York and American monument. Of course, there are personal backstories which make this book so interesting. Once into it, the book was hard to put it down ...truly a very enjoyable read.

The Engineer’s Wife is a fictionally-based account of the life of Emily Warren Roebling and her pivotal involvement in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Blended throughout the novel are details of her marriage to General Washington Augustus Roebling, whose affliction with cassion disease effectively prevented him from the physical demands of onsite supervision of the bridge construction. Emily’s fictionalized struggles as a mother and as a woman living in the last half of the 1800s are also threaded throughout the book. Tracey Emerson Wood does a masterful job of weaving together factual information from historical accounts of Emily’s life as well as imagining her daily activities.

Most Americans are familiar with the iconic landmark of the Brooklyn Bridge, but, for most of us, the details of Emily’s major contribution have largely been lost. It was truly a joy to pick up The Engineer’s Wife and be transported back to the days of construction. The interwoven stories of the bridge worker’s families and the description of the city at the time make the book come alive.

As with most fictionalized accounts of actual events, we the reader are blessed with knowledge of the actual outcome, such as successful completion of the bridge, but I found myself immersed in the book and hopeful that Emily would not only find success in her role in the construction, but also personal happiness. Readers would be well advised to put this book on their TBR list!!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in return for my honest opinion of the book!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I admire the author's writing about Emily and the courage she had to overcome so many obstacles. I found the PT Barnum relationship a distraction, however. I read David McCullough's book on the Brooklyn Bridge many years ago and don't remember how she was portrayed there.
All in all a compelling read.

This book was quite interesting as it covered the history of the Brooklyn Bridge being built, and the role that Emily Roebling played in its completion. There was a lot of research that went into this book and I learned a lot about the techniques for building such a large structure at that time in history, as well as the role that Emily played in learning and providing leadership once her husband was injured. The time that the project took, as well as the danger to the workers is something that is harder to comprehend in this day and age, but quite interesting to consider.

1865, Emily Warren married Captain Washington Roebling, they met during the American Civil War and Wash was her older brother’s Gouverneur Kemble Warren’s aide. They were instantly attracted to each other, their courtship was conducted by mail and they didn’t spend a lot of time together due to the war. Did they know each other well prior to getting married, no not really and it did effect their relationship later on? Wash returned from the war looking, tired, thinner and older. He also had funny turns called “soldiers heart” he couldn’t handle loud noises and he was suffering from shell shock. Wash and his father John were both engineers, they needed to finish the Covington-Cincinnati Bridge construction and it had been delayed due to the Civil War and they had plans to build a much bigger bridge.

John Roebling had a dream to build a bridge called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge or as it’s called today the Brooklyn Bridge. The plan was to build a suspension bridge for Brooklyn residents to use to get to work in Manhattan and not have to catch water ferries. It was huge project, it was expensive, it would take years to complete and they didn’t have all the funds they needed to build it.

Eventually they worked out the funding, Wash was to be the chief engineer, guided by his father and they would build a suspension cable-stay bridge supported by two huge towers that are built on two caissons. Caissons are watertight retaining structures used to build the foundations of bridges, they are large upside wooden boxes and had false bottoms. The false bottoms were removed so men working inside them could dig away at the mud and bedrock at the bottom of the river and compressed air was pumped into the chambers to keep the river water from running in and drowning the men. It was dangerous work, Wash didn’t mind getting his hands dirty and he worked alongside his workers while building the bridge. He developed a bad case of Caisson sickness, we now refer to it as the bends, he was too sick to oversee the building of the bridge and spent months in bed.

Emily became her husband’s messenger, despite having no formal education in maths, science or engineering. She had always been interested in her husband’s work, as a bored new bride, she read his text books on engineering and understood the basics of building bridges. Emily was smart, soon she was not just the messenger, and she was managing the construction of the bridge and in charge.

It wasn’t easy for her, how could she walk around a construction site wearing a big dress, with her toddler son John tagging along and attitudes towards women working were different back then. She hired a nanny, wore bloomers, people talked about her, some women snubbed her and it wasn’t easy for her. Emily had to deal with grumpy foremen, dodgy suppliers, criticism, questions about if the bridge was strong enough for both pedestrians and traffic to use. It effected her relationship with her son, also her marriage and at times she and Wash lived apart. Emily Roebling was a remarkable women, she was a wife, a mother and she managed the project of building the world’s longest suspension bridge at the time. She was also interested in women’s rights, the women’s suffrage movement and so was her mother.

I found the technical terms a little confusing and I had never heard of a caisson before. But once I googled what a caisson was it made more sense and I had no trouble following the story. The Engineer’s Wife uses facts about building the Brooklyn Bridge, to create a story about a strong, determined woman, who didn’t follow the traditional roles of being a wife and mother during the time the story was based in and Emily was a woman before her time.

I enjoyed reading The Engineer's Wife, if you like Historical Fiction, want to read something different, I highly recommend reading it and I gave the book five stars.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebook Landmark for giving me the chance to read and review this book. This is the story of a forgotten woman, Emily Warren Roebling, who helped build the Brooklyn Bridge. It is based on facts, although the author explains at the end of the story that some things in the story are fiction. When Emily's husband, Wash (Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge) is injured on the job, Emily takes over. Both of them think it is a temporary thing, but Wash's health only gets worse. Soon, Emily has to give up her life and her work and take over her husband's dream. It is very hard for Emily and Wash-lots of work hazards, jealousy, and just the pressure on their marriage. This is just a remarkable story! I learned so much about the Brooklyn Bridge and how difficult it was to build it. I also admired Emily's strength determination-she really should get more credit for building the bridge.

I wish I could rate this book higher, but I found it very difficult to get through. I love that it is based on real events and the life of a woman ahead of her time, so that was certainly a plus. There were a few elements that kept me from fully enjoying the book. Too much time was spent on the technical aspects of bridge building. I found myself skimming over those parts as the book went on. Because of the repetitive and horrific losses of life that were detailed in the book (losses that were based in reality), I had hoped that there would be more uplifting moments to balance it out. Instead I just left the book feeling sad. I did learn so much about this trailblazer and the men who sacrificed their lives for America's infrastructure, something I think we tend to forget about in this modern age of technology and machinery. .

Welcome to my book review blog! I’m a happily married mother of 2. I became an avid reader in college but the past 5 years it has become a passion. A wonderful escape from reality. I enjoy reading and reviewing and over the past couple of years have enjoyed receiving Advanced Readers Copies. I look forward to selecting books to be on my to read list and love reviewing them when I finish. Please follow me and like my page to see what I’m reading next.

This incredible historical fiction book takes you to life just after the Civil War. We follow Emily Warren and the impact she has a woman in the early 1900’s. She marries an engineer Captain Washington Roebling and their family embarks on building the Brooklyn Bridge. During this time period Emily is hoping to take a place on women’s suffege movement. Emily becomes front and center serves messenger and ends up working first hand on decisions when life through a a curve ball. A beautiful story line of love, heroism and how many lives were changed due to the building of the bridge. I wasn’t aware of the story behind the bridge that at times were heartbreaking as well as all the dangers to the workers during this construction. I fell for the characters and felt that the author provided deep descriptions that really transported me in this time period.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing me the e-arc for my honest review of The Engineer’s Wife. I will keep my eye on Tracey Enerson Wood.

I could tell I was going to love this book after 3 sentences! The writing is fantastic!

The Engineer's Wife is the story of Emily Roebling, whose husband and father-in-law designed and began the building of the Brooklyn Bridge just after the Civil War. Her hand, whose first name is Washington (Wash) gets a bad case of the bends during underwater construction and is basically bedridden. Emily, having an interest in his work, takes over supervision of the project, at first shuttling orders back and forth, but learning more, and becoming integral to the project. The story is interwoven with real events and characters, although some situations are construed for dramatic effect.

The story is so well-told, the author does a great job of painting a picture of the era and the people with her words. The action moves along really nicely most of the time, not too fast, and not too slow. There is a secondary storyline involving PT Barnum that is lots of fun, and really enjoyable. It also made me want to learn more about what a caisson is, and how the bridge was built.

The only downside to the story for me, and this may actually be true to the period is that after his illness, Wash never really appears to be sexually active/interested in his wife again, and she ultimately is OK with that. I don't know how it would be possible to live the rest of one's life without physical love.

This book is an excellent jumping off point for discussions of womens right, womens suffrage, etc. I think it would be a great choice for book clubs, and there are some book club notes at the end that are very thoughtful.

I could also see this book being a film- I think it would be a great adaptation, it really lends itself to the visual, there are many scenes that would be so dramatic in nature.
All in all, this was an excellent book, I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if that were an option!

Thanks very much to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book at NC, my opinions are unbiased and my own.

This book was received as an ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I could not be more inspired by this book and the fact it was based on a true story was even more striking to read. Emily was the wife of the engineer Wash of whom she put her dreams on hold of fighting for women's suffrage and follow her Husband's dreams of building to what is now known as the Brooklyn Bridge. When Wash gets a terrible injury, Emily is now in place to take over his job in constructing the bridge. With Wash not being able to return, the project becomes Emily's and she is now consumed by it. With her marriage at risk and all she has ever known, she wonders whose legacy this really is, hers or her husbands? Will she be the one recognized in constructing this American Icon? This is a great book to read in schools and a good history lesson to definitely teach in the curriculum.
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We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Historical fiction that incorporates details about a real life person is so much fun to read, and this book hit the nail on the head. It is so empowering as a woman to hear of a woman who had such an important role in building history.