Here, as in New York itself, may be found everything and everyone, from the first inept Dutch leader, William Verhulst, to the number of saloons in 1820, to the budget debacles of the 1970s.--The New York Times Book ReviewLankevich has done the near-impossible and packed almost four centuries of New York City into one slim history... a deft survey.--New York HistoryA splendid work of history that expands our understanding and appreciation of New York City... a concise, clear, and meaningful guidebook covering New York's long past.--Journal of American HistoryFrom its origins as a primitive Dutch outpost to the sprawling urban complex it is today, the defining characteristic of New York has been constant, dramatic, and rapid change. Formerly published as An American Metropolis, this new edition features a new preface in which Lankevich discusses the impact of the events of September 11 on the city, as well as an updated final chapter on the Giuliani administration. By understanding the history of New York, we obtain a vital sense of what America was, is, and can become.