May the Road Rise Up to Meet You

The years leading to the American Civil War were turbulent, particularly for immigrants and African-Americans, both victims of their circumstances who had varying abilities to rise above them. Peter Troy follows the lives of two European immigrants--Ethan, from Ireland, and Marcella, from Spain--and two slaves--Mary and Micah--from the years just before the Civil War through the assassination of Lincoln. The four characters, who each tell parts of the story from their own point of view, are performed by four narrators: John Keating, Barrie Kreinik, Allyson Johnson, and Adam Lazarre White, respectively. All four narrators meld seamlessly into their characters and provide stellar performances, providing the listener an engrossing listening experience. Particularly impressive is the ability of all four narrators to mimic the accents and voices of other characters when they interact. There is never an issue with a character sounding completely different when appearing in a section told from a different character's point of view. This continuity between sections unifies a group of strong individual performances and makes them into a wonderful and cohesive audiobook. J.L.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

November 7, 2011
In Troy’s debut, the worlds of an Irish immigrant, a New York society girl, and two slaves collide via the fight against slavery and the Civil War. This historical saga begins during Ireland’s Great Famine and brings readers through to post–Civil War America. In 1847, Ethan McOwen arrives in New York City to pursue a new life with his family. By the time the Civil War begins, the McOwen family has established a comfortable life, with Ethan having become a respected photographer. Ethan and his friends join the famous Irish Brigade, and he begins documenting the war through his photographs. Later, at an exhibition of his work, Ethan meets Marcella Arroyo, a beautiful, sophisticated woman who’s chosen to shun her family’s wealth and dedicate herself to abolition. Meanwhile, in Richmond, Va., slaves Mary and Micah lead two very different lives. While Micah suffers constant abuse and sleeps on a pile of hay, Mary’s owners consider themselves kind, providing her with “privileges” such as a bedroom. They soon fall in love, and unusual circumstances eventually bring all four characters together. Except for the predictable Marcella, the depth of Troy’s characters offers compelling insights into the Civil War era.