Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898
Encyclopedia
Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 is a non-fiction book by historians Edwin G. Burrows
and Mike Wallace
. Based on over twenty years of research by Burrows and Wallace, it was published in 1998 by Oxford University Press
and won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for History
. Wallace is currently working on the second volume, which will cover New York City history through World War II
.
The book was met with mostly laudatory reviews. In his review for The Atlantic, Timothy J. Gilfoyle called the book "the most comprehensive examination to date of the city's history prior to 1900," saying that "Gotham may rank in importance with the multi-volume works on Thomas Jefferson
by Dumas Malone
and on the Civil War
by Allan Nevins
." Publishers Weekly
called the work "definitive."
"Gotham" as a term for New York City was coined by Washington Irving
in an 1807 November issue of his literary magazine, Salmagundi, based on the legends of the English village of Gotham
, whose inhabitants are known for their folly.
Edwin G. Burrows
Edwin G. "Ted" Burrows is a Distinguished Professor of History at Brooklyn College. He is the co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 and author of 2008's Forgotten Patriots: The Untold Story of American Prisoners During the Revolutionary War. Burrows...
and Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (historian)
Mike Wallace is an American historian, Distinguished Professor of History at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York, where he has taught since 1971, and the director of the Gotham Center for New York City History....
. Based on over twenty years of research by Burrows and Wallace, it was published in 1998 by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
and won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for History
Pulitzer Prize for History
The Pulitzer Prize for History has been awarded since 1917 for a distinguished book upon the history of the United States. Many history books have also been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography...
. Wallace is currently working on the second volume, which will cover New York City history through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The book was met with mostly laudatory reviews. In his review for The Atlantic, Timothy J. Gilfoyle called the book "the most comprehensive examination to date of the city's history prior to 1900," saying that "Gotham may rank in importance with the multi-volume works on Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
by Dumas Malone
Dumas Malone
Dumas Malone was an American historian, biographer, and editor noted for his six-volume biography on Thomas Jefferson, for which he received the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for history...
and on the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
by Allan Nevins
Allan Nevins
Allan Nevins was an American historian and journalist, renowned for his extensive work on the history of the Civil War and his biographies of such figures as President Grover Cleveland, Hamilton Fish, Henry Ford, and John D. Rockefeller.-Life:Born in Camp Point, Illinois, Nevins was educated at...
." Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
called the work "definitive."
"Gotham" as a term for New York City was coined by Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
in an 1807 November issue of his literary magazine, Salmagundi, based on the legends of the English village of Gotham
Wise Men of Gotham
Wise Men of Gotham is the early name given to the people of the village of Gotham, Nottinghamshire, in allusion to their reputed simplicity. If tradition is to be believed, the people of Gotham were not so very simple.- Legend :...
, whose inhabitants are known for their folly.
External links
- Review in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
by Clyde Haberman, December 13, 1998 - Review in The Atlantic by Timothy J. Gilfoyle, February 1999