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The demolition of Penn Station in 1963 destroyed not just a soaring neoclassical edifice but also a building that commemorated one of the last century's great engineering feats—the construction of railroad tunnels into New York City. Now, in this gripping narrative, Jill Jonnes tells this fascinating story—a high-stakes drama that pitted the money and will of the nation's mightiest railroad against the corruption of Tammany Hall, the unruly forces of nature, and the machinations of labor agitators.
In 1901, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Alexander Cassatt, determined that it was technically feasible to build a system of tunnels connecting Manhattan to New Jersey and Long Island. Confronted by payoff-hungry politicians, brutal underground working conditions, and disastrous blowouts and explosions, it would take him nearly a decade to make Penn Station and its tunnels a reality. Set against the bustling backdrop of Gilded Age New York, Conquering Gotham will enthrall fans of David McCullough's The Great Bridge and Ron Chernow's Titan.
In 1901, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Alexander Cassatt, determined that it was technically feasible to build a system of tunnels connecting Manhattan to New Jersey and Long Island. Confronted by payoff-hungry politicians, brutal underground working conditions, and disastrous blowouts and explosions, it would take him nearly a decade to make Penn Station and its tunnels a reality. Set against the bustling backdrop of Gilded Age New York, Conquering Gotham will enthrall fans of David McCullough's The Great Bridge and Ron Chernow's Titan.
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About the Author:
Jill Jonnes is the author of Conquering Gotham, Eiffel's Tower, and Urban Forests. She was named a National Endowment for the Humanities scholar and has received several grants from the Ford Foundation. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
From AudioFile:
Gotham, of course, means New York City, and the Pennsylvania Railroad conquered much to bring its trains to Manhattan Island. Aside from maneuvering the politics and designing a monumental station, there was the engineering nightmare of crossing the mile-wide Hudson River with four subterranean tunnels. David Drummonds voice deserves five stars for tempo, understandability, and tone. He avoids the pitfalls of excessive theatrics or droning by choosing subtle accents for quotations without making them distracting. These voices always fit the authors clues about who is speaking, and they create a learning experience far better than the printed word. The authors skill and a narrator perfect for nonfiction will delight lovers of true stories from the past. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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- PublisherTantor Audio
- Publication date2007
- ISBN 10 1400134366
- ISBN 13 9781400134366
- BindingAudio CD
- Rating
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Conquering Gotham: A Gilded Age Epic: The Construction of Penn Station and Its Tunnels
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Tantor Audio, UNITED STATES
(2007)
ISBN 10: 1400134366
ISBN 13: 9781400134366
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Book Description AUDIO CD. Condition: Very Good. 9 BRAND NEW AUDIO CDs. NEW CDs sealed in the shrink wrap. Slight publisher remainder mark. Enjoy this NEW Audio CD performance, GIFT QUALITY for your home and library. Seller Inventory # 111120181291622
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