Summary
"The Great Bridge" by David McCullough is a meticulously researched and vividly narrated account of the planning, construction, and social impact of the Brooklyn Bridge, one of America's most iconic landmarks. The book delves into the lives of the Roeblings—John A., the visionary designer, and his son Washington, who oversaw the project's execution amidst immense challenges—and their unwavering commitment to realizing this monumental feat of engineering. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing late 19th-century America, McCullough explores the complex interplay of political ambition, financial scheming, technological innovation, and human endeavor that shaped the bridge's creation.
The narrative traces the evolution of the bridge from its initial conception in the minds of Brooklyn civic leaders to John A. Roebling's audacious plan to span the treacherous East River with a single, unprecedented suspension bridge. McCullough details the intricate engineering involved, the political machinations required to secure funding and approvals, and the immense logistical challenges of procuring materials and organizing a vast workforce. He introduces the key figures who played pivotal roles, from the savvy contractor William Kingsley to the influential politician Henry Cruse Murphy, each driven by their own ambitions and agendas.
As construction commences, the story shifts to the Roeblings themselves, father and son, whose partnership becomes a defining element of the project. John A. Roebling's untimely death early in the process thrusts Washington Roebling into the lead, forcing him to confront not only the formidable engineering hurdles but also the rampant corruption and political infighting that threatened to derail the entire undertaking. The narrative follows Washington's struggles as he battles caisson disease, a debilitating ailment contracted while working in the compressed-air chambers beneath the river, and his reliance on his wife, Emily Warren Roebling, who becomes his indispensable partner and surrogate on the construction site.
McCullough paints a vivid portrait of Brooklyn and New York City in the late 1800s, capturing the spirit of progress, innovation, and boundless ambition that characterized the era. He explores the social and economic forces that drove the demand for a bridge connecting the two burgeoning metropolises, as well as the impact the bridge had on the lives of ordinary people, from the immigrant laborers who toiled in the depths of the caissons to the commuters who traversed its span daily. The narrative weaves together personal stories, historical events, and technical details to create a compelling account of a remarkable achievement that forever transformed the landscape of New York and the field of engineering.