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FOR LOVERS OF historical novels, the newest work by Edward Rutherford is a must-read. It is a majestic tale of epic proportions.

This all-encompassing story takes the reader from tiny Indian settlements on the island of Mannahata to modern day New York City. A vast cast of individuals is interwoven throughout the novel. Stories of the rich and poor, black and white, and immigrants from many nations are interspersed throughout. Historical figures such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Boss Tweed and Babe Ruth become part of the fiber of New York.

We gain a new perspective about the events that have shaped the city, viewing the Revolutionary War from both the loyalist and patriot perspectives. New York becomes the capital of the United States, an unpopular choice among many of our founding fathers. Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the stock market crash and Great Depression, the re-imaging of the city as the "Big Apple," and the shock and terror of the destruction of the Twin Towers--all are part of New York's history.

This is also a story about the fictional Master family whose ancestors were among the early Dutch and English settlers and were considered part of the New York aristocracy. Their fortunes rose and fell over the centuries.

The book provides a panoramic view of the history of a great city and of America, and provides vignettes of events that are often not covered in history classes.

Kathy Habel is a freelance reviewer in Spotsylvania.