Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898

Was disappointed in the condition of the book that I received. There were between 20-30 paper clips ear marking pages in the book that were imbedded in the pages. When I tried to take them out, the rust damaged the pages and ripped them. Additionally, tons of pages were highlighted. The book jacket was in such bag condition that I had to remove it and throw it out. The only reason I am marking this as a 3 is for the book content itself.

Writing a review is normally not too difficult, but words fail me in describing the majesty and scope of Gotham. Having grown up and lived in NYC from 1984 until 2002, I consider myself a New Yorker. And growing up, I used to always see this book at the front of the bookstores in the local history section, but its length and weight scared me. 1400 pages is a daunting amount of information. But NYC history stretches back to the early 17th century. So I finally downloaded the book for my Kindle and began reading it in fits. A chapter here. Then another book. A few chapters then another book. Then last week I decided to finish it. And now I sort of wish that I hadn't finished it so that I can have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time.The book itself is divided into five sections. Section I details New Amsterdam, the time when New York was firmly entwined in European history as a colony of the Dutch. This is probably my favorite part of the book because 17th century American and especially NYC history is a part of greater European history. And this part is the most fascinating because of the nature of the Dutch and how they shaped NYC to be a cosmopolitan port, concerned more with commerce and freedom of thought than with restrictions based on religion. This in turned helped shape American history. If this is something you're ever interested in, I cannot more highly recommend to you Russel Shorto's  The Island at the Center of the World .Section II is about British New York, roughly 1664 to 1783. I suppose I should describe this part, but it almost seems that this part is known to most Americans because of the events that led to the Revolution. Still, there are interesting cultural and social trends here, especially as concerns women. In New Amsterdam women could hold property and could enter into legal agreements and in general were more equal than they would be later. Again this part of the story reads like European history because of the connection of the colonies to Europe.Sections III and IV detail the rise of NYC to leading economic city of the US. These sections encompass political, legal, social, economic, cultural, religious and social history. Of particular interest is the transformation of NYC from mostly English and Protestant to a city of English, German, and Irish and to a city of Protestants, Jews, and Catholics. This trend of transformation would continue in Section V, which added an influx of Russian-Jewish, Italian and Chinese to the city. Section V also details how Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx joined together into one very large city in 1898. Why then? Because New Yorkers were paranoid about Chicago supplanting them the way they once supplanted Philadelphia and Boston. In these sections there is something here for everyone. These are the heart of the book and show how NYC history is American history. How? What happens here was a microcosm for what was happening all around the burgeoning American Republic.At 1398 pages, 1239 of which are normal non-end note, bibliography and index pages, Gotham is a long book that encompasses a very long stretch of New York City history. It shows the transformation of a far-flung, small Dutch colony to Capital of the World. It is magisterial and highly recommended. Now if only the author (Mike Wallace will be alone in writing it) would release the sequel.

I strongly recommended this epic, popular general history of NYC to anyone who might find the subject of interest. I am only half-way though as of this comment. There is a failing in the writing as far as I am concerned of this book early on, regarding the period of first settlements thru the early Federal times of NY after independence There is no consistent style in the use of archaic words and terminology. Some are quotes of from period official and personal documents, doing well in the difficult task of piecing together a narrative about life in and around New Amsterdam of the 1620 and on.One who is not familiar with English, French, Spanish and Dutch Royalty of the 16th - 17 century, their various disputes and wars and the turf also of the various churches as they were needs some serious orientation at times. Even one archaic practice many of us have heard of but I can't understand even after this book is of the sanctioned privateering (by "us" and "them") and impressment of men into forced service in His Majesty's Royal Navy. Oh, privateers were not pirates they say, and in Baltimore (not a part of this book) they have a Privateer's Day festival!I would really say there is or was a false notalgia generated in NYC elementary school students for the old Dutch days of New Amsterdam and Peter Stuyvesant. Who is notable and remarkable.. But not your 'friend' as I remember as kid in the NY Public Schools of the early 1960s. This is corrected in my mind with the a reading of the book. NY (Lower Manhattan) was not a viable settlement that had to be rescued at least a couple of times or else! It was rough, raunchy (stinky I am sure) , very harsh company town (with Church as powerful) to live in that depended on proper families in the Dutch settlements across the rivers in what is now NJ and LI for food and more!I am struck by the tales of the grandest public celebration that surely ever occurred in NY history. Such as "Evacuation Day". and the grand parade held upon the the new Constitution ratification and the opening of the Erie Canal. The early NY - US political parties and the living out the Constitution at that early-post independence time are extremely hard to wrap one's head around but extremely significant even to us today - just look at why NY State cities do not have home rule and why it took decades for an official police force to be allowed. I was horrified reading of brutal sanction punishments and of the mob from NY's earliest times through the Civil War-time draft riots.There never was a "good old days" you'd want to live in, let alone visit for more that a few special hours. My most mind-blowing day I wish I could have seen - and which makes me emotional even thinking about it- would to have seen George Washington riding down Broadway in triumph leading Patriots expelling defeated Brits from NY after the long, hard occupation, which became the NY celebration of Evacuation Day for almost a hundred years, on NOV. 25. And a few years afterward, G.W. was President and for a year(ish) NY was both the capital of NY State and of the U.S, One could stroll by founding fathers and important VIPs from around the world, on the old streets of Lower Manhattan! What could match that?I look forward to more as I get through this book, quibbles aside. Let's see how the consolidation of Greater NY is handled near or at the end of this book!

Well it is a BIG book for sure, but very quickly you are lost. It could have been trimmed a bit, and better organised too. But it's New York, so... ****

A truly enthralling amazing biography of NYC. A wonderful rich informative read. Such a sense of achievement when you finish

Informative, fascinating, and deserves it's Pulitzer.

Unerlässliches Buch zum Verständnis der Frühgeschichte der Stadt New York und der Lebensverhältnisse damals dort.

This is an exceptional book. For years I looked at it in bookstores, but the sheer size of it was always enough to deter me from buying it. But I ordered it, and didn't have the hassle of actually carrying the massive tome. This is an astoundingly comprehensive history of New York City, going from the geological formation of the area until the turn of the century. It is so in depth, and covers so many topics, and from so many angles. As it spans the history of the time, it takes time to note how things developed (or didn't) for the black residents, the natives, the women, and other marginalized groups. It deals with politics, economics, architecture, art and public entertainment. Because it is simply so large, I decided to only read one chapter per day, and gradually work my way through it. In the end, I was glad I did it that way. Often I found each chapter held so much information that it was more than enough to ponder and consider before moving on to the next one. Now I am very eager for their second volume!