The Hudson: America's River

Frances F. Dunwell presents a rich portrait of the Hudson and of the visionary people whose deep relationship with the river inspires changes in American history and culture. Lavishly illustrated with color plates of Hudson River School paintings, period engravings, and glass plate photography, The Hudson captures the spirit of the river through the eyes of its many admirers. It shows the crucial role of the Hudson in the shaping of Manhattan, the rise of the Empire State, and the trajectory of world trade and global politics, as well as the river's influence on art and architecture, engineering, and conservation.

Table of Contents:
Foreword, by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Prologue: River of Imagining, People of Passion and Dreams Acknowledgments 1. World's End, World Trade, World River: Henry Hudson's Failed Quest, Adriaen Van der Donck's Utopian Vision, and the Legend of the Storm Ship 2. The River That Unites, the River That Divides: King George and George Washington Vie for the Hudson 3. America's River of Empire: Robert Fulton's Folly, Robert Livingston's Venture Capital, and DeWitt Clinton's Ditch Spark the Rise of New York Port 4. First Stop on the American Tour: Europe Discovers Sylvanus Thayer's West Point, a Catskills Sunrise, and a River That Defines the American Character 5. America's First Artists and Writers: The Sacred River of Thomas Cole, the Mythic River of Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper 6. The Industrialized River: Gouverneur Kemble's Weapon Works, Henry Burden's Iron Foundries, and Colonel Stevens's Engine Factory 7. Going up the River for Health and Fun: New York City Journalist N. P. Willis Survives TB and Discovers an Idle Wild 8. Design with Nature: The Landscape Gardens of A. J. Downing, the Architecture of A. J. Davis, and the Inspiration for Central Park and Riverside Drive 9. Gateway to America, Escape Route to Canada: Immigrants Greet a Beacon of Liberty, John Jervis Creates a New River Route, and a Railroad Goes Underground 10. Millionaires' Row: The River Castles of J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and Frederic Church, and the Floating Palaces of Manhattan's West Side 11. A Forest to Protect a Commercial River: Land Surveyor Verplanck Colvin, Photographer Seneca Ray Stoddard, and the New York Board of Trade Campaign to Safeguard the Hudson in the Adirondacks 12. An Interstate Park for the Palisades and the Highlands and a New Progressive Vision: Elizabeth Vermilye's Women's Clubs, Edward and Mary Harriman's Park, Mrs. Olmsted's Fresh Air Camp, and Margaret Sage's Charity 13. Over, Under, Across, and Through: Civil Engineers Triumph Over Nature, Except in New York Harbor 14. Surviving the Depression, Connecting with Nature: FDR's River of Dignity, Robert Moses's Riverside Drive, and John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s Parkway 15. The 1960s: Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, Clearwater, and The Nature Conservancy Campaign to Save a Mountain and Revive a "Dead" River Epilogue: A River of Power, and the Power of Passion Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Frances F. Dunwell is the author of Hudson River Highlands and has spent over thirty years in a number of nonprofit and governmental positions dedicated to conserving the natural and historic heritage of the Hudson River.

Review :
"A story of interaction between people and the environment and a story of continuing inspiration and renewal. All libraries will be enriched by this volume." -- Library Journal "A commanding and inspiring biography of a river... The story of the Hudson River is nothing less than the story of nature's resiliency and civilization's evolution." -- Booklist "Dunwell's clear, fast-moving prose conveys a wealth of information to form a commanding and inspiring biography of a river." -- Booklist (starred review)