Review

REVIEW

by the proprietor of the hotel that plays a central role in The Seamstress of Jamestown

It is not often that one gets the chance to write a review of a novel about a gold rush town and its premier hotel of the same vintage.

The California Gold Country, which dates from the initial gold finds of 1848 resulted, almost overnight, into a series of towns or camps of a few hundred to a few thousand.    From 1849 to the late 1890s, this was the most populated and influential section of the State.  Many stories have been centered in this historical part of California, but none has been more compelling than this one.

Barbara Hettwer  has written a wonderful new book, that is both historical and a novel.  The Historic National Hotel, circa 1859, played a prominent role in the town of Jamestown.  Hettwer has taken the folk lore of the town and the National Hotel in particular, and woven a story that is well written,  fascinating to read and, I suspect, the first of many novels yet to be written.

Today this restored hotel still thrives as a 9 room bed and breakfast and a highly acclaimed restaurant.  It is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, South of the City of Sacramento and North of Yosemite National Park. 

Stephen Willey
Proprietor
1859 Historic National Hotel & Acclaimed Restaurant
18183 Main Street ~ P.O. Box 502
Jamestown, CA 95327-0502  
Voice: (209) 984-3446 ~ Fax: (209) 694-4864
Reservations: (800) 894-3446
Mail to: info@national-hotel.com 
http://www.national-hotel.com
Located in the heart of Yosemite/Gold Country
Celebrating 39 years of Innkeeping and Fine Dining