The Historical Atlas of New York City: A Visual Celebration of Nearly 400 Years of New York City's History [Paperback]

Eric Homberger (Author), Alice Hudson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1998 | Series: Historical Atlas

A New York Public Library Outstanding Reference Book

A visual celebration of nearly 400 years of New York City's history.

To celebrate the one-hundredth anniversay of Greater New York, what Alfred Kazin calls "a treasure of a book" is now a gorgeous paperback. The New York Times Book Review raved that The Historical Atlas of New York City "may be as close to a printed CD-ROM as paper can get." Now, this visual cornucopia of full-color maps, charts, photographs, and drawings covering four hundred years of the city's history is a trade paperback. Neighborhood by neighborhood, the Atlas takes the reader back through history, detailing such crucial events as the initial settlement of 270 people in thirty log houses; John Jacob Astor's meteoric rise from humble fur trader to the richest and most powerful man in the city; Frederick Law Olmsted's design for Central Park; and the fascinating ethnic mix of modern Queens. For both history buffs and the twenty-five million people who visit New York each year, The Historical Atlas of New York City is the guide to America's first city.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Eric Homberger's The Historical Atlas of New York City shows what can be achieved within a very narrow frame of discussion. With just one city to depict, Homberger explores the rich variety of details in the city's 400-year history with vivid drawings and illustrations as well as beautifully rendered maps. The atlas takes on the geologic history of New York, major eras (Indian, Dutch, and British), and the formative 19th century, as well as the consolidation of Greater New York, neighborhood histories of Coney Island and Greenwich Village, and the Big Apple exploits of 1945 through 1996. But there's room for the small stuff, too, such as the political and cultural role of New York's taverns in the late 1700s. --Stephanie Gold

From Library Journal

"Atlas" is almost a misnomer for this encyclopedic overview of the history of New York City. Homberger (American studies, Univ. of East Anglia; Scenes from the Life of a City: Corruption and Conscience in Old New York, LJ 9/1/94) details the growth and development of the Big Apple from earliest times, with attention to geological formation, pre-Colonial settlement, and transformation to first city of the young republic. Detailed color maps abound, accompanied by a running commentary of major historical and cultural eras. Many of the most detailed maps are rendered schematically for easier reading. Each period treated features historical photos and illustrations along with accompanying map(s). Some of the best-known aspects of the city, e.g., the UN, Rockefeller Center, receive individual treatment, as do neighborhoods such as Harlem, Greenwich Village, the Lower East Side, and Chinatown. Two fascinating illustrations are stylized diagrams of Broadway, the longest street in the city, and Fifth Avenue, arguably the city's main street. A detailed, illustrated chronology of important events in the city's history concludes the volume. A visual delight; highly recommended for all libraries.
Edward B. Cone, New York City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks (May 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805060049
• ISBN-13: 978-0805060041
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Education & Reference > Atlases & Maps > Historical
  • #83 in Books > Travel > United States > States > New York

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thoroughly enjoyable introduction to the great city, December 4, 2002

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Historical Atlas of New York City: A Visual Celebration of Nearly 400 Years of New York City's History (Paperback)

It would be impossible to do justice to the history of New York City in a couple of hundred pages, so approaching this book with realistic expectations is important. With that in mind, this book is a wonderful overview of a fascinating metropolis, beginning with the formation of the land mass and continuing through its inhabitance by the Manahatta, the Dutch, the Brits and the Americans. Key historical eras are covered including the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and many areas of interest are addressed such as immigration, politics, sports, the arts and architecture.

There are many photographs, drawings, charts and maps, and I appreciated that the scales were similar so that a reader can compare various maps easily.

Articles are well-written and graphics are clean and well-designed. I would call this more an historical almanac of NYC, but whatever you call it, it is a fun and interesting read.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A New York Primer, October 17, 2003

By 

Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Historical Atlas of New York City: A Visual Celebration of Nearly 400 Years of New York City's History (Paperback)

Mr. Homberger's book, as the subtitle explains, is a VISUAL celebration. And on that level, the book is highly successful. In other words, don't expect any in-depth, thorough analysis of 400 years of NYC history. (For that, read Burrows and Wallace's GOTHAM.) To me, the sections dealing with pre-Revolutionary War New York are the most valuable, and Ms. Hudson's artwork is at its best there. This book is a great introduction to NYC history. I've lent my copy to several people over the years, and I return to it, again and again. Read, learn and enjoy.

Rocco Dormarunno
Author of The Five Points

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars COLORFUL AND FUN TO READ, February 24, 2000

By 

frisky2000 "frisky2000" (Margaritaville) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: The Historical Atlas of New York City: A Visual Celebration of Nearly 400 Years of New York City's History (Paperback)

Though a few facts are inaccurate here and there, the general look and presentation of this book makes it an absolute pleasure to read through. It's not a page for page heart-stopping, boring narrative of historical facts, but rather a full color 400 year history of the greatest city in the world: New York City! Includes maps, authentic photos, amusing stories and very interesting accounts of the evolution of the region. You will enjoy it.