Despite never having been to New York City, I find myself drawn to both fiction and non-fiction about it, especially the period from the 1870's to the 1910's. This work provided some additional background (as well as a pleasant excursion) into that world.

Jonnes provides a great amount of detail in both the construction aspects and the political wheelings and dealings of the herculean task of bringing the railroad to Manhattan. I'm not sure which was the greater foe: Tammany or the Hudson River! In any case, I was astounded on both fronts that this magnificent structure was even able to be completed. I was also very sad to read in the Coda section of its demise.

Perhaps Jonnes tried a bit too hard to replicate the style of Erik Larson; the connection to the Evelyn Nesbit scandal was obvious, but seemed a sidebar to the main focus of the book. Then again, considering Larson's success with The Devil in the White City, who can blame her for adding a bit of scandal to the story?