A Short and Remarkable History of New York City [Paperback]

Jane Mushabac (Author), Angela Wigan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

NOW in its fifth Printing which includes the events of September 11, 2001.Selected by the American Association of University Presses as one of The Best of the Best from the University Presses.(2000)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A smart and stylish highlight history of the world's greatest city.-John Jakes

Great urban reading.-Where New York

This deft and deligtful sprint through New York City's history is filled with key facts, remarkable curiosities, strong viewpoints and fabulous illustrations. The result is an irresistible compendium for Gotham mavens and newcomers alike.Phillip Lopate

From the Inside Flap

"Interesting fact-nuggets, beaded with lively commentaries and images, make for a handy, instructive, and entertaining time line of New York's history." -Mike Wallace, co-author of Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898, winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize

"This deft and delightful sprint through New York City's history is filled with key facts, remarkable curiosities, strong viewpoints and fabulous illustrations. The result is an irresistible compendium for Gotham mavens and newcomers alike." -Phillip Lopate, editor of Writing New York: A Literary Anthology (Library of America)

"This book is a marvel and a municipal treasure." -Rickie Solinger, winner of the Organization of American Historians Lerner-Scott Prize

"This year-by-year chronicle offers the reader a mix of delightful vignettes, fascinating information, and engaging illustrations. This is a feast for any New York history buff." -Morris Dickstein, Director, Center for the Humanities, CUNY Graduate School

"Finally, a short history of New York City, using the broad strokes of a simple chronology interspersed with social and cultural information. Fun!" -Ric Burns, director, NEW YORK: A Documentary Film

"A mind-opening chronicle of a city's history-exciting and imaginative." -Gitta Sereny, historian and biographer

"A smart and stylish highlight history of the world's greatest city." -John Jakes, author of the North and South Trilogy and American Dreams

"Excellent." -U. S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler

". . . brilliant and delightful. With unfailing deftness, Mushabac and Wigan's vignettes and classic illustrations give their lucky readers a concise, reliable, and comprehensive introduction to every aspect of the great city's history." -David C. Hammack, Haydn Professor of History, Case Western Reserve University; author of Power and Society: Greater New York at the Turn of the Century

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 158 pages
• Publisher: Fordham University Press (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823219852
• ISBN-13: 978-0823219858
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this before it goes out of print!, March 18, 2004

By 

Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short and Remarkable History of New York City (Hardcover)

It's too bad that this book has become a "hard-to-find" title that's going out of print. "A Short and Remarkable History of New York City" by Jane Mushabac and Angela Wigan is a tight, brisk, roller coaster ride through close to four centuries of NYC history, that is well worth the price. Thirty-something dollars may seem like a lot for a 160-page book that is mostly a timeline, but when you consider that this book is loaded with over 1,500 facts, historic moments and figures and some brilliant illustrations provided by the Museum of the City of New York--many of them that you won't find in the usual NYC history books--the price of roughly 25 cents a page is a steal.

It is curious that Amazon is offering Burrows and Wallace's "Gotham" as the Better-Together item with this book. Not that "Gotham" isn't a good book--it is one of THE BEST! It's just that it seems quite a leap from a mostly illustrated 160-page timeline to a deeply serious, scholarly, 1,000 page history. For the newcomer to NYC history, "A Short and Remarkable History of New York City" is a great starting point. But from here I would recommend Eric Homberger's "Historical Atlas of New York City". Maybe from there you can go to "Gotham"

In any event, pick up this short, remarkable book before it goes out of print.

Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively, fun introduction to New York City history & people., March 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short and Remarkable History of New York City (Paperback)

A Short & Remarkable History Of New York City is a concise history provides a lively survey of New York City and its people rather than reviewing its historical sites: it provides insights on how New Yorkers behaved and misbehaved, what they wore, how they became rich or poor, and how they led their lives. A lively, fun coverage New Yorkers in particular will relish.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History simply put, August 2, 2005

By 

Michelle L. Sanpietro - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short and Remarkable History of New York City (Paperback)

Concisely puts early New York history into perspective while accounting for the global changes at the time Manhattan was first inhabited by the Dutch. This book is a great primer for those who are new to researching the evolution of New York City.