More than 130 years after its completion, the Brooklyn Bridge remains
one of the most extraordinary landmarks and symbols of Brooklyn and New
York City--and the story behind this architectural marvel is just as
extraordinary.
The Brooklyn Bridge was originally designed by John Augustus Roebling,
but it was his son, Washington, and his daughter-in-law, Emily, who
oversaw the bridge's construction. As work on the bridge went on,
Washington developed caisson disease, leaving him bedridden for the
majority of the bridge's 14-year construction. Washington's wife, Emily
Roebling, took his place running the work site, deftly assuming the role
of chief engineer, supervising the project and overseeing the workers,
contractors, a hostile press, and greedy city politicians--an unusual
position for a woman to take on at the time.
In this inspiring graphic novel, author Peter J. Tomasi and illustrator
Sara Duvall show the building of the Brooklyn Bridge as it has never
been seen before, and the marriage of the Roeblings--based on
intellectual equality and mutual support--that made the construction of
this iconic structure possible.