{"product_id":"the-island-at-the-center-of-the-world-the-epic-story-of-dutch-manhattan-and-the-forgotten-colony-that-shaped-america-9781400078677","title":"The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn a riveting, groundbreaking narrative, Russell Shorto tells the story of New Netherland, the Dutch colony which pre-dated the Pilgrims and established ideals of tolerance and individual rights that shaped American history. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Astonishing . . . A book that will permanently alter the way we regard our collective past.\" --\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. Russell Shorto draws on this remarkable archive in \u003ci\u003eThe Island at the Center of the World\u003c\/i\u003e, which has been hailed by \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e as \"a book that will permanently alter the way we regard our collective past.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. \u003ci\u003eThe Island at the Center of the World\u003c\/i\u003e uncovers a lost world and offers a surprising new perspective on our own.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Russell Shorto\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Vintage\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/12\/2005\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 416\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.84lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.94h x 5.26w x 0.84d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781400078677","brand":"Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42447491596425,"sku":"9781400078677","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_9bb0bac6-2acb-40e2-b0cd-ae4639432a70.jpg?v=1716193058","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/the-island-at-the-center-of-the-world-the-epic-story-of-dutch-manhattan-and-the-forgotten-colony-that-shaped-america-9781400078677","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}