Footprints in New York

by James Nevius, Michelle Nevius

New York City experts James and Michelle Nevius explore the lives of two dozen iconic New Yorkers, including Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, Central Park architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, business titan JP Morgan, and music legend Bob Dylan. Beginning with the oldest building in NYC, a 1652 farmhouse in Brooklyn, and journeying all the way to the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, the book follows in the footsteps of notable New Yorkers across all five boroughs. How did the city help Abraham Lincoln win the presidency? Where in Manhattan did Edgar Allan Poe compose “The Raven”? How was an area like Soho experienced by Mary Todd Lincoln, or Jane Jacobs, or Woody Allen? One part history and one part personal narrative, Footprints in New York traces the city’s story from the Dutch village below Wall Street to the Mean Streets of Martin Scorsese, creating a different way of looking at the past.
Visit www.footprintsinny.com for more.

Genres: New York, History, Nonfiction, Cities, American

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2014

About the author

James is a New York City-based historian and walking tour guide.

With his wife, Michelle, he has written three books: a concise walking tour guide book called Frommer's 24 Great Walks in New York (released in March 2008) and Inside the Apple A Streetwise History of New York City, which was released in March 2009, and Footprints in New York Tracing the Lives of Four Centuries of New Yorkers.

The authors' blog of NYC history and event information can be found at http://blog.insidetheapple.net.

Other musings are at http://jamesnevius.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Theresahpir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of Goodreads' First Reads and I have to apologize for taking so long to getting around to actually posting a review of this book, but it took me a good month to get through.

It's not that its a bad book or a boring book (quite the opposite in fact). It simply took me so long to digest because this book was literally PACKED with fascinating facts and a concise and thorough history of America's favorite city.

Not being from New York and not being too well versed in New York history, I was afraid that this book would be dry, boring, intimidating, etc. Luckily, that simply was not true. For starters, it's important to note that the history of New York goes far beyond---it is the history of our country as a whole, and the authors do a wonderful job relating how specific incidents shaped our country of today.

Secondly, the authors of this book are tour guides. They know their stuff, but more importantly, they know how to present it (even through the written word) in a way that is educational and easy to follow. Each chapter is loosely in chronological order and builds on and reiterates the history already established. Handy maps are included in the back to give you an idea of the locations mentioned.

I have to say, I absolutely loved this book. It was written in somewhat of a narrative style, and the authors combine their own interactions with the locations mentioned for a personal touch. Throughout all that, it maintained a very well-researched, scholarly historical resource. And, I have to confess, I was especially impressed with the brief mentions of ghosts in a couple of chapters!

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who has any connection with New York, or anyone who is interested in U.S. History. My ONLY criticisms would be that I would absolutely love to see more photographs from the locations discussed. Also, this book was pretty well packed as I mentioned before. I think it could have easily been split into two books, possibly spinning off into a series, allowing room in each volume for more photographs, etc.

[Lawrence A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful, well-written, and meticulously researched, this impressionistic view of New York City (and Brooklyn) by a fellow Upper West Sider and Columbia University alum (and his wife) is an introduction to the social history of the City through its architecture and streetscapes. Author James Nevius is a direct descendant of the early Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam (whose progeny were later known as Knickerbockers, after a humorous coinage by Washington Irving), and he takes his heritage---and those of all of us who followed in his ancestors' footsteps---quite seriously. Each chapter focuses on a various epoch in New York City history, with particular reference to a characteristic leading light of that era (Peter Stuyvesant, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry Ward Beecher, Edith Wharton, J.P. Morgan, Bob Dylan), and what the City might have looked and felt like to that person and those in his or her peer group. The Neviuses lead walking tours in the City; I can't wait to sign up for one of them!

[Mary Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have taken several walking tours with James and just loved each and everyone… the time goes by so fast and you just want him to keep talking and telling you all these interesting little tidbits…. this book is like having James (and Michelle) at your fingertips…Loved this book… every chapter has hidden jewels of information… and you don't have to read them in order… before I had finished it, I realized I was meeting friends at the Morgan Library… so I quick jumped to that chapter and learned all I could… then I finished the rest of the book for my book club meeting…. did I mention our meeting was a tour of Greenwich Village followed by lunch at Otto!!… we all enjoyed the book and the tour… Highly recommend this book even if you don't live near NYC … it is full of fascinating history...

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I grew up in NYC and had the opportunity through my high school to take a variety of classes and extra credits in the history of NY. Some of the information in this book was new and some reminded me of past lessons. Each section was well written and I could picture walking through the areas mentioned. I preferred the earlier sections since I am interested more in history, but having moved away from the city, the more current entries were nice to read.

If you have an interest in New York City or would like to see how people can affect the environment of a location, I would highly recommend this book.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is cool but the author's tone is slightly irksome and condescending. Also, people are "hanged" (sadly) pictures are "hung"; One of the many grammatical things in this book that bothered me. The subjects are sort of interesting and the content is thoroughly researched, so that's one good thing. However, I think this author has more interesting books.

[Garnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've developed quite a fondness for this kind of book: a long-time resident of a great city provides little vignettes of city history and draws attention to the visible remnants of these historic events. It's a great way to get a sense of the development of the city over time: greater depth than a guidebook yet covering a broader scope than histories devoted to specific events or individuals. Nevius, an experienced tour guide and himself a descendant of early Dutch settlers, does a great job describing how the city has changed over time, as neighborhoods experience cycles of prosperity, decay and revival. Walking the streets of New York, I find constant little reminders of Dewitt Clinton, Frederick Law Olmsted and other characters he introduces. The historical context enriches my travel experience.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun to find a book in your favorite area (New York history) and find a fresh perspective. The authors give tours of New York and know lots of history and, perhaps more importantly, know how to share it in an interesting way. In this book, they have chosen to tell the history of New York century by century through the people who created it while traveling through the neighborhoods in which they lived.

It's a well-written history and while I've read lots of New York history, they've given me new facts and a fresh aspect

Pick it up!