content: I just finished The Drowning Room and even though it was only 250 pages, it took determination to actually finish it. I understand that the author came across the main character during his research on a history of New York City and was so facinated by her that he felt compelled to write a fictional account of her story. He should not have bothered. The only thing that I took from the book was some idea of what life in New Amsterdam was like during Dutch rule there.