Martin, William. The
Lost Constitution. Forge. May 2007. c.512p.
ISBN 978-0-765-31538-0. $24.95. Fiction.
[Please see my reviewer's note following
this review.]
As in three previous works of historical
fiction—Back
Bay, Cape Cod, and Harvard Yard—Martin's
eighth novel brings to life the passage through time of a significant
historical artifact. In this case, it is a first draft of the
Constitution, rumored to contain handwritten notes by some
of the men involved in the discussions. Leading the search
for the lost document, once again, is rare book dealer and
antiquarian Peter Fallon. But this is no stodgy search through
dusty archives. As he and his girlfriend track the document
through several New England states, they must contend with
thugs willing to kill to get what they want. Both liberal and
conservative forces hope the marginalia clarify crucial issues,
in particular the right to bear arms. This contemporary thriller-aspect
gets a bit muddy near the end and pales in comparison to the
rich historical episodes, which tell an engrossing family saga
peopled with beautifully drawn characters and set in New England's
mill towns and forests from the days just
after the Revolution through the Civil War and into the early
20th century. Memo to Martin: forget trying to write a modern
thriller; the history itself is thrilling. Highly
recommended.
Library Journal, 132, no. 8 (May 1, 2007),
73.
Reviewer's note: The editors at LJ changed
my recommendation in ways I found displeasing. I would never
have the gall to tell another writer what or how to write.
Below are the final three lines of this review as they appear
in my submission to Library Journal:
This contemporary thriller, however, pales
in comparison to the rich historical episodes, an engrossing
family saga set in the mill towns and forests of New England
from the days just after the Revolution through the Civil War
and into the early twentieth century. Beautifully drawn characters
who lead interesting lives in dramatic moments of American
history make this a must buy for all public libraries. Highly
recommended.