Until Time Erases You
by David W. Gordon
“Now, we wait and see how bad the city burns.”
A young Italian beauty, Catherine Tassone, is sent to America in 1904 after an eruption of Vesuvius devastates her village. A Jewish immigrant, Jacob Brosky, tries to make his way in the garment industry of New York. An Irish boy, Michael McMahon, grows up in his father’s shadow under the watchful eye of Tammany Hall leaders. Amidst the confluence of industrialism, immigration, and the Progressive Era, the three will discover love and loss in the shadow of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.
In turn of the century New York City, sparks ignite as their lives entwine under the pressure of greedy industrialists who put profits over people. Until Time Erases You traps readers high above the streets as an epic story of courage, longing, and loss burns around lovers frantically seeking to escape the inferno that could consume them.
David W. Gordon, a retired U.S. Marine, has taught American history and law for twenty-five years. He has an MA in American History from SNHU and an MA in Secondary Education from Mercy College. He was selected as a Senior Fellow by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. His first novel, The Outhouse, is a Book Excellence and CIPA EVVY Award winner in historical fiction.
“Max thought that it suited their purposes perfectly. He was certain Isaac knew that as well, though he watched as his partner played coy with the agent. High-rises were popping up all over the city and floor space to be used for factories was more available than ever before, especially on the upper floors where fire hoses and ladders could not reach. Max was confident his partner was going to work the agent hard to obtain the best rent rate they could. The two men had gotten rich by doing that in every facet of their life. They leveraged every advantage, pinched every penny and sweated every employee to control costs and maximize profits. Expanding their garment factory into this space would allow them to grow beyond what their wildest dreams had ever allowed.”
While the Shirtwaist Kings had aspirations of unimaginable wealth, 15-year-old Catherine Tassone had more important things to worry about. In the wake of Mount Vesuvius’ volcanic eruption, Catherine had no option but to leave behind her family and seek a fresh start in America – the land of opportunity. Nevertheless, when she finally reaches America, she quickly realizes that the reality is far from what she had anticipated, and poverty is just as prevalent, if not more so, here. However, needs must and so she gets a job at The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The work is arduous and the hours are gruelling, but she can at least send some money back home to her family.
Catherine quickly becomes accustomed to the American way of life. She makes friends and is courted by two would-be suitors. But tragedy is just around the corner, and it threatens to change the course of her friends’ lives as well as her own forever.
Until Time Erases You by David W. Gordon is an unputdownable novel that brilliantly explores themes of love, loss, and unimaginable courage amidst the historical tragedies of the Mount Vesuvius eruption and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Through impeccable prose, enthralling storytelling, and mastery of word-building, Gordon brought the essence of this era to life.
The combination of unsafe working conditions, unquenchable greed from the owners, and a complete disregard for life makes this book a harrowing read. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, just like when it happened, is reminiscent of a horror story. Just like the Titanic, the supposedly fireproof Asch Building caught fire and trapped factory workers, mostly young women, on its 8th, 9th, and 10th floors. Flammable objects, including clothing products, sewing machines, and cutting tables, were densely packed on the upper three floors. To cut costs, they chose not to have a sprinkler system and made do with buckets of water in case of a fire, which was totally inadequate for the size of the building. When the building caught fire, the speed in which the fire took hold was frightening, and the lack of proper fire escapes and locked stairwell doors were not conclusive for an efficient evacuation. In reality, there were no plans for evacuation whatsoever. The fire service, when they arrived, did not have ladders or hoses long enough to quench the fire, and although they had nets to try to catch those who jumped, the impact of a body falling so far meant the nets were useless. Gordon depicts the fire in graphic detail and describes the impossible choice that the trapped workers faced. Whether they waited for the fire to consume them or jumped out of the building, the outcome would be the same - the end of their lives. Gordon’s extraordinary skill as an author ensures that readers experience fear, horror, hope, and a deep understanding of how the workers’ and their families’ lives are forever altered. But although so many lives were lost, the building still stands today, so perhaps they were right when they said it was fireproof, they just didn’t mention it was also a fire trap.
By incorporating a countdown to the fire, Gordon skilfully heightens the tension of the story. The narrative begins with a factory fire where 25 people died and then goes back five years. Through the timeline, the reader gets to know the main character. Despite surviving the terrifying eruption of Vesuvius, Catherine Tassone’s family has lost everything, leaving her with no option but to sail to America and live with her uncle and aunt. Catherine intends to secure employment to support her family financially and save up to bring her sister, Sophia, to America. She secures employment at The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The work is demanding, the hours are extensive, and her bosses constantly reduce their workers’ pay for what they perceive as a waste of materials and other similar matters. But there really isn’t an alternative for all factories were the same. Catherine is a pivotal character who propels the story, enduring unimaginable challenges with unwavering determination. She is an amazing friend, a trustworthy keeper of secrets, and a genuinely lovely individual.
The corruption of the era is explored in great detail, both in local politics, bribery of the police force and of course, corporate greed. The Uprising of the Twenty-thousand was depicted in great detail. And while many of the factory owners did concede to some of the demands, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory unsurprisingly did not. The strike, lasting thirteen weeks, was a violent one. As the labour disputes intensified, law enforcement systematically detained picketers for insignificant or fictitious transgressions, while employers enlisted local prostitutes and thugs to physically harm them, as the police deliberately turned a blind eye. The author’s decision to narrate the strikes through the eyes of certain individuals added a personal touch to the story, illustrating their genuine sacrifices in pursuit of improved working conditions.
The recurring motif in this tale is the prioritization of financial gain over human welfare - “Profit over People.” With little to no workers’ rights, the well-being and the safety of the workers were in the hands of their employees, and these men were seemingly as corrupt as they came. Gordon’s depiction of Max Blanck and Isaac Harris highlights their complete disregard for the well-being and safety of their workers, and even though they were acquitted of murder charges in 1911, Gordon does not shy away from presenting them in a negative light. Despite not being declared guilty, their financial gain from the insurance policies on the building does raise the question of whether the fire was an accident or a deliberate act. Gordon argues the latter.
Until Time Erases You: A Tragedy of Love, Loss, and Courage in the Shadow of the Triangle Fire by David W. Gordon is an extraordinary work of historical fiction. The era was vividly portrayed through meticulous historical detailing and unforgettable characters. It is a story that once read, will never be forgotten.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club
David W. Gordon is the award winning author of The Outhouse, An Absence of Faith, The Count of Mount Collier High and Until Time Erases You.
The Outhouse is a Book Excellence Award winner, a CIPA EVVY silver medalist for Best Historical Fiction, and was awarded Honorable Mentions in the Great Southern California and new England Book Festivals. An Absence of Faith is a Readers' Favorite Finalist and received recognition in the New York, Los Angeles, Florida and Beach Book Festivals as an Honorable Mention. The Count of Mount Collier High is an all ages adaption of a modern Count of Monte Cristo. All four novels have received Readers' Favorite five-star certification.
A former United States Marine, he currently teaches Social Studies in NY State.
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