Title: New Amsterdam Rediscovered
Review: As a well written and well researched history of the Dutch settlement of New York, Island at the Center of the World , is a hugely entertaining and enlightening read. While illuminating this less well known chapter in early American history Russell Shorto has also provided character sketches of many of the early Dutch settlers including the better known such as Peter Stuyvesant and Peter Minuet as well as scores of others who are less well remembered but also left their impact on the culture but as interestingly left their names on a variety of streets, boroughs and other fixtures of the New York area.Shorto explains why the Dutch influence in the Americas is less understood and studied than both the English and Spanish today but had a significant influence on American society that is typically overlooked.All in all , this is very good popular history and a very readable page turner on an interesting subject.
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