According to legend, Shakespeare brought together John Harvard's parents and gave them an original manuscript when their son was born.  A butcher, named Robert Harvard, told his friend, William Shakespeare, that he needed his help in finding a wife.  Robert did get married.  He and his wife had a son, John.  When Robert was dying from the bubonic plague, he told John that "a man will be known for his books". 

William Martin, author of Back Bay, once again brings in Peter Fallon to search for the manuscript which was believed to have been destroyed by the Harvard Hall fire of 1764.

The search for the manuscript takes the reader through many events throughout history including the sinking of the Titanic, World War I and II and much more.

Does Peter Fallon succeed in finding the manuscript?

This book is a wonderful blend of the past and present and also of fact and fiction.  William Martin does an excellent job of bringing his characters to life by adding an amount of wit and charm to them.  This is an entertaining book and one that you will enjoy reading because Mr. Martin does such a good job of blending the history of Harvard and the country into the story.


REVIEWED BY NANCY EATON

DO NOT REPRINT WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, NANCY EATON