The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch

The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America
- Used Book in Good Condition
In a riveting, groundbreaking narrative, Russell Shorto tells the story of New Netherland, the Dutch colony which pre-dated the Pilgrims and established ideals of tolerance and individual rights that shaped American history.Â

"Astonishing . . . A book that will permanently alter the way we regard our collective past." --The New York Times

When the British wrested New Amsterdam from the Dutch in 1664, the truth about its thriving, polyglot society began to disappear into myths about an island purchased for 24 dollars and a cartoonish peg-legged governor. But the story of the Dutch colony of New Netherland was merely lost, not destroyed: 12,000 pages of its recordsâ€“recently declared a national treasureâ€“are now being translated. Russell Shorto draws on this remarkable archive in The Island at the Center of the World, which has been hailed by The New York Times as â€œa book that will permanently alter the way we regard our collective past.â€

The Dutch colony pre-dated the â€œoriginalâ€ thirteen colonies, yet it seems strikingly familiar. Its capital was cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic, and its citizens valued free trade, individual rights, and religious freedom. Their champion was a progressive, young lawyer named Adriaen van der Donck, who emerges in these pages as a forgotten American patriot and whose political vision brought him into conflict with Peter Stuyvesant, the autocratic director of the Dutch colony. The struggle between these two strong-willed men laid the foundation for New York City and helped shape American culture. The Island at the Center of the World uncovers a lost world and offers a surprising new perspective on our own.
Country USA
Brand Vintage
Manufacturer Vintage
Binding Paperback
ItemPartNumber 9781400078677
Color Cream
ReleaseDate 2005-04-12
UnitCount 1
UPCs 884752196866
EANs 8601417156063

Country	USA
Brand	Vintage
Manufacturer	Vintage
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	9781400078677
Color	Cream
ReleaseDate	2005-04-12
UnitCount	1
UPCs	884752196866
EANs	8601417156063

The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America

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