By Simon V.-L.

I started my final project with the intent of writing a ten to fifteen page short story about a reporter in New York around the turn of the century. As my historical research grew and my character began fleshing himself out, it became clear that I could not accomplish what I wanted to in the space I had initially conceived of. One thing led to another, scenes piled themselves upon scenes; as it stands Mercury Rising is a novel of approximately 58,000 words. Its first-person narrator is one Colm Fitzjohn, the son of Irish immigrants and, as of the novel's opening in February 1886, night editor of the fictional New York Mercury for several months. His work and life over the next half-year (through June of 1886, when the novel ends) carry him through many different sides of the city and of American immigrant life in general; the main focus of his investigations is the swelling labor rights movement, whose country-wide strike on May first of 1886 (and its aftermath) figures prominently in the action of the novel. Due to its length Mercury Rising could unfortunately not be posted here, but I will be glad to send a copy to anyone who contacts me.

Simon Vozick-Levinson, June 2001