The three Saperstone siblings, who are scattered throughout the country and leading very different lives, are drawn back home to Saratoga, New York, when their mother dies. What they discover there shocks them: she has left behind a much larger estate than they could ever have imagined. The wealth, as they find out, comes in the form of long-term investments bequeathed by Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and Thomas Edison—who called themselves "the vagabonds"—to the siblings' grandmother. The money had been a payment, offered as hush money for a long-ago night of indiscretion and handed down through the generations. As a result, the three siblings soon discover that inheritance can alter not merely their separate fortunes, but their shared sense of the past.
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"This was a quick and entertaining read about sibling relationships. I enjoyed it for the fiction. "
— Dennese (4 out of 5 stars)
“Such a determined meditation on love as this novel provides may give those usually fatigued by such matters second thoughts.”
— Booklist“[Delbanco’s] characters have the complexity and fragility of real life. A moving exploration of a believably passionate love, and of its subtle, powerful, persistent impact on the lives of two stubborn romantics.”
— Kirkus Reviews" This was a quick and entertaining read about sibling relationships. I enjoyed it for the fiction. "
— Dennese, 11/13/2012" Interesting historical backdrop regarding the real life "Vagabonds" who traveled through the U.S. I had a personal interest since it was written by UM English prof, Nick Delbanco and was littered with Ann Arbor references "
— Toby, 5/11/2012" An inheritance from Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and Henry Ford (based on an experience during one of their camping trips) is passed down through 3 generations to 3 largely estranged siblings. In this case, the inheritance brings the siblings together, as their mother had hoped. "
— Marvin, 12/17/2010" The basic plot had potential. But the writing and the way the story was presented - yuck. It is broken into pieces in an unappealing way for seemingly no reason. The writing had very few appealing passages. Where was the editor? "
— Jen, 12/17/2010" Very good serious fiction. "
— Lana, 9/22/2010" The basic plot had potential. But the writing and the way the story was presented - yuck. It is broken into pieces in an unappealing way for seemingly no reason. The writing had very few appealing passages. Where was the editor? "
— Jen, 4/30/2009" Interesting historical backdrop regarding the real life "Vagabonds" who traveled through the U.S. I had a personal interest since it was written by UM English prof, Nick Delbanco and was littered with Ann Arbor references "
— Toby, 7/11/2007Nicholas Delbanco is the well-regarded author of numerous works of fiction, including The Vagabonds, What Remains, and The Count of Concord, as well as The Countess of Stanlein Restored, a nonfiction work. He is the chair of the University of Michigan’s MFA program.
Gabrielle de Cuir, award-winning narrator, has narrated over three hundred titles and specializes in fantasy, humor, and titles requiring extensive foreign language and accent skills. She was a cowinner of the Audie Award for best narration in 2011 and a three-time finalist for the Audie and has garnered six AudioFile Earphones Awards. Her “velvet touch” as an actor’s director has earned her a special place in the audiobook world as the foremost producer for bestselling authors and celebrities.
Gabrielle de Cuir, award-winning narrator, has narrated over three hundred titles and specializes in fantasy, humor, and titles requiring extensive foreign language and accent skills. She was a cowinner of the Audie Award for best narration in 2011 and a three-time finalist for the Audie and has garnered six AudioFile Earphones Awards. Her “velvet touch” as an actor’s director has earned her a special place in the audiobook world as the foremost producer for bestselling authors and celebrities.