The Island at the Centre of the World

The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America

By: Russell Shorto

Write A Review

Paperback | 13 May 2014 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
416 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
2.7 x 12.7 x 19.7

Paperback

$38.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $9.75 with

Ships in 10 to 15 business days

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 records - recently declared a national treasure - are now being translated. Drawing on this remarkable archive, Russell Shorto has created a gripping narrative - a story of global sweep centred on a wilderness called Manhattan - that transforms our understanding of early America.

The Dutch colony pre-dated the "original" 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.

Industry Reviews

The Island at the Center of the World must always be near the top of the list of great books about New York - Guardian

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.