I loved this book having not known anything about the Panama Canal or the country - it was a really interesting read as well as having a fantastic story woven through. The characters were delightful and the story invoked a real sense of when things were done differently and a time when this was a massive undertaking.
A thoroughly good read, would definitely recommend.

I read The Book of Unknown Americans during lockdown and it was one of my favourite reads of that year. Seeing Cristina Henriquez’s name on another novel had me intrigued, especially after reading the blurb. I’ve never read anything set in Panama before and was interested to learn what it might have been like for families during the building of the Panama Canal. The only disappointment after finishing this is in myself for waiting so long to pick it up, it’s a beautiful and epic tale of several different characters and situations weaved into one. We meet a whole host of characters. Omar, a Panamanian who goes against his father’s wishes to help build the Canal; Ada, a young lady from Barbados who travels to Panama to pick up work to help pay for her sick sister’s operation, John and Marian Oswald, who have relocated from the US – John, a scientist looking into yellow fever and malaria and Marian, a botanist who has given up everything to support her husband. John hires Ada as a nurse for Marian after witnessing her assist Omar as he falls sick. And that’s really the essence of the book, people helping others. I found this a great fictional look into a slice of history I knew nothing about previously.

I really enjoyed this. A story about the building of the Panama Canal and the lives of those around and involved in it. A great piece of writing based around an important historical event and famous landmark.

A good story about the building of the Panama Canal, which definitely needed a good story to keep me gripped

what a clever book. Who would have thought you could write a readable novel about the building of the Panama canal and the lives of the people involved in that great venture. This was an immensely readable book for anyone like me who enjoys historical fiction based on true events.

Excellent piece of historical fiction chronicling the construction of the Panama Canal and the development of the local towns supplying workers and the influx of those desperate for work and a piece of the action. Henriquez portrays the divisions in their lives, culturally, ethically and financially.

Ada Bunting one of the main protagonist is a fiercely independent young woman of her time desperate to provide for her sick sister to have surgery and leaves her home in Barbados without leaving word with her mother. She commences work with local Dr John Oswald, himself having aspirations to find a cure for malaria whilst caring for his ailing wife. Omar Aquino a local Panamanian boy goes against his father’s wishes having seen the growing opportunities the canal will provide. Their stories highlight the plight of the workers, their struggles and hardships and their striving for a better life

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I love historical fiction so I was very intrigued to read about this time period and location that I am unfamiliar with.

I found that since this was more of a character-led story, I didn't learn as much about the canal project as I would have liked. There are A LOT of characters in this book so it can be hard to follow and link storylines.

I do think that this book actually has great potential as a film script. Would try another book from this author.

Thanks: Received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5

This is not a book with happily-ever-afters. Given the topic discussed I should not have expected anything different.There was something about the ending and the way it tied up some things and not others was what enchanted me. Also, I realised extremely late that the cover has people's faces on the side. I usually pride myself about my observation skills -so this was a little embarrassing.

The story is based during one of the phases of the building of that Panama canal, something I knew nothing about, and even worse - I did not realise there was something to know about it in the first place! The history itself was fascinating, anyone who thinks fiction doesn't match up to non-fiction should try books like this. This version provides a kaleidoscopic look at a lot of people involved in the construction of the canal and those whose life was affected by the same. The author brings to life the average people and how the known facts about the situation would have impacted their day-to-day.

I am not going into the individual characters or what times they play because there are several and they need to be met and understood at the pace that the author talks of them. There is a subtle hint of magical realism but it is not strong enough to interfere with an otherwise practical storyline.

The people and their interactions are the strength of the book. There were some sad scenes I wish I did not linger on, but they are written with heart and it is hard not to shed a tear or two multiple times during the book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction or even just history.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

3,5 stars


"The Great Divide" was an interesting read, but, at least for me, the story suffered from having too many characters without really developing any of them. Sometimes it felt more like a collection of connected short stories instead of one connected novel.

My first book by Cristina Henríquez and certainly not the last. The Great Divide explores the lives of the people who lived and worked in Panama during the construction of the canal. Through multiple perspectives, we get a sense of the conditions and relationships in that period. It is a story of division, in many ways. I loved the historical context and the many diverse characters. Beautifully told and gripping, this novel is highly recommended.

Title: "The Great Divide" by Cristina Henríquez: A Poignant Exploration of Immigration in America

In "The Great Divide," Cristina Henríquez paints a vivid portrait of the immigrant experience in America. Through the lens of a single family, Henríquez delves deep into the complexities of identity, the struggle for belonging, and the harsh realities of navigating a divided society. With exquisite prose and heartfelt storytelling, she brings to life the hopes, dreams, and challenges faced by those on both sides of the border. "The Great Divide" is a compelling and timely novel that offers profound insights into the human cost of immigration and the enduring power of resilience.

I was attracted to Cristina Henríquez's third novel, The Great Divide, because it promised a panoramic look at the building of the Panama Canal in the early twentieth century, skipping between the viewpoints of labourers, fishermen, local activists, a teenage girl from Barbados drawn to Panama in hope of good wages, and a doctor who is trying to eliminate malaria on the isthmus. But The Great Divide actually has precious little to say about the Panama Canal, preferring instead to give us a series of stock characters: the frail, silenced white middle-class wife, the 'bold' black girl who is trying to make a better life for her family, the grumpy Panamanian fisherman who wants to defend the way things have always been done, the brutal US overseer who believes in the march of progress. Because most of the novel switches between so many different sets of people, almost none of which have anything interesting about them (there's perhaps some potential in the doctor, John Oswald, and the fisherman, Francisco), it feels flat and slow; I love character-led fiction, but it does require... characters. There's also almost no sense of place, which surely should have been crucial here, because of the consistent vagueness of Henríquez's writing. Here's a description of a busy street, for example: 'Carriages led by horses clapped down the road, and carts led by mules in turn led by men rattled and clanked. Women walked about carrying baskets on their backs or their heads or in the crooks of their arms. Well-attired people stood on street corners and talked. Every building looked clean and brand new'. Anyway: I guess this is a reminder of why I rarely read straightforward historical fiction.

It was fascinating to learn about this period in history, the construction of the Panama Canal and the societal divides and norms that existed at that time.

Thank you to NetGalley and 4th Estate and William Collins for this eARC.

The one beautiful thing about books is we get experience other places and things. This book made me look into the construction of the Panama Canal. This is something that wouldn’t have crossed my mind at all.

With that being said, I did not enjoy this book. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. A lot was happening but it also felt as though not enough was happening. As a slice of life book, it would work well as a movie or a limited series.

A historical novel set in Panama at the time of the building of the Panama Canal. The title of the novel, as well as referring to the canal itself, could also refer to the political and social divisions in the country over the building of the canal, especially between the Americans funding the enterprise and the workers, both local and itinerant, labouring in the building of the project. Several storylines interlink, focusing on the lives of those who were involved in the process of building the canal, bringing the community to life. Sometimes the author pushes historical facts into the narrative, which although interesting and relevant, feel like inserted pieces of research. On the whole it is an enjoyable but not especially memorable read.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

A beautiful, informative and ultimately feel-good novel about the lives of those who lived and worked in Panama during the construction of the canal. A wide set of multi-layered characters and intertwined storylines that will captivate you from the very first page. The author writes beautifully.

A historical novel set against the backdrop of the construction of the Panama canal. I was absolutelygripped throughout.
The amount of characters did take a while to get my head around , however when it clicked it was such a clever device.
Thoroughly recommend!

Based on the subject matter, I likely wouldn't have picked this novel up but I did so on the strength of some really good advanced notices and I wasn't disappointed. Wonderful and richly dawn characters, this is a warm and wise novel with a historical backdrop I knew nothing about but that was vividly brought to life and encouraged me to learn more. Highly recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4.75

A heartwarming account of the building of the Panama canal and its effects on various people's lives.

At first, I wasn't sure about this book. There seemed to be many characters and plot strands and I felt as though I was just getting used to one character when we switched to someone else. However, gradually everyone's lives intertwined, which I really loved. There were some tragic moments but overall this was a very hopeful book with loveable people and I really enjoyed it. It was nice to have such a different subject. Highly recommended.

I'd like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the 4th Estate for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:3.5/5
'The Great Divide' is a historical novel set against the backdrop of the construction of the Panama canal. This is a historical event I was completely unfamiliar with, and it was fascinating to read about. The author has built a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and having different motivations. It was difficult to keep track of all the characters but I ended up being invested in all of the plotlines. The book is not just about the construction of the canal- it is about the the people whose lives were impacted by it. The descriptions and the atmosphere make it a truly immersive book. The pacing was a little too slow for my liking. I just wished the individual storylines has connected sooner. The book also ended up sharing a lot of unnecessary information that didn't have any significance. However, the last 20% was really good.
I think the great divide is worth reading for the discussions on colonialism. I'd also recommend this for those who enjoy character driven historical fiction.