Manhattan

A vivid, evocative narrative history of Manhattan, revealed through its perpetual act of reveling in a vibrant past of conflict and creativity.

Manhattan offers an exhilarating journey through the history of a small island that embraced the world. The book presents a story of artistic achievement, political wrangling, racial tension, showmanship, financial ambition, and skulduggery. It introduces the people and personalities who keep the city running and those hell-bent on ruining it.

Manhattan’s rich blend of eyewitness account, historical summary, cultural exploration, and society gossip reveals a city enriched by habits and fads, endangered by crime and corruption. Time after time, the city is caught in the act of thrashing out a vibrant future through clash, chaos, and creativity.

A furious capitalism propelled Manhattan’s technological and architectural triumphs while New York artists, writers, intellectuals, and performers celebrated and questioned what was going on beneath the glitzy surface. An unruly city that succeeds in spite of itself, New York is loved for its chutzpah and humor. Manhattan celebrates the culture, energy, and diversity of this self-reflecting city—from the façades of its steel-and-glass skyscrapers to the songs and shows that make Manhattan.