Description

Taking Manhattan tells the fascinating story of New York City’s remarkable origins and its transformation into an iconic metropolis. Written by acclaimed author Russell Shorto—whose previous work, The Island at the Center of the World, garnered widespread praise—this thrilling book captures the dramatic events of 1664, when England set out to seize Manhattan Island from Dutch control. Determined to build their own expansive empire, King Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, viewed the governing Dutch as rivals standing in their way. However, once Richard Nicolls—the English military commander leading the attack—encountered the shrewd Dutch director-general, Peter Stuyvesant, outright conquest gave way to careful negotiation and creative diplomacy.

In this vivid narrative filled with captivating historical figures, Shorto portrays the founding of New York as a unique invention born out of diverse cultural forces and compromise. He highlights how the city’s dynamic character emerged from blending the multicultural, commerce-driven society of Dutch-controlled New Amsterdam with England’s rising imperial interests. Yet Shorto also makes clear that the birth of America’s first modern city was deeply entwined with darker histories—namely the brutal dispossession of Native American communities and the early introduction of slavery in America. Drawing upon newly translated documents and previously overlooked materials, Taking Manhattan sheds new light on the experiences of Indigenous groups, religious refugees, and Africans both enslaved and free.

Ultimately, Taking Manhattan presents an engaging, multi-layered account of New York’s evolution as the heart of American capitalism and pluralism, the foundation upon which a nation would rise. Shorto thoughtfully examines the duality at the city’s core: extraordinary opportunities side by side with injustice and inequality. The paradox of New York’s founding, he argues, encapsulates America’s enduring promise as well as its persistent shortcomings. Praised for his “astonishing” (New York Times) narratives and described as performing “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), Shorto once again delivers a gripping, insightful exploration of America’s complicated beginnings.

Includes 29 images and 2 maps.