In every readers life there are a few books which seem to come out of nowhere at just the right moment to surprise and delight and affirm your hope that there are still treasures lurking in the doublestacked shelves. This was that sort of book for me.Published in 1809, the young Irvings book is a satirical novel/history of the Dutch New Netherlands, ostensibly written by a crotchety old fellow named Diedrich Knickerbocker and printed by his former landlord after the author mysteriously disappeared while still owing a considerable amount of rent. Irving himself engaged in a sort of viral marketing campaign for A History of New York, writing missing person notices for Knickerbocker in several New York papers prior to publication.Knickerbockers "history" of New York begins with the creation of the world, of course. It moves on to the origin of species and the peopling of Earth, then jumps right into the "discovery" of the New World by Europeans (especially Henry Hudson). Theres a fantastic, biting chapter on the ethics of colonization and relations with the Indians. The bulk of the history, however, has to do with the gloriously comical reigns of the three Dutch governors of The New Netherlands. Theres a lot of insidebaseball for people familiar with the politics of New York in Irvings own day, but unfamiliarity in no way detracts from enjoyment of the book.A History of New York is hilarious, and terrifically entertaining. Theres nothing quite like it in early American...

Binding: Hardcover;270 pages; Publisher: Bibliotech Press; Classification: N/A; Weight: 619.4 g; Dimensions: N/A

Something not quite right? You have 21 days from the day you receive it, to send something back.

Please note, we cannot offer refunds on fashion face masks, cosmetics, pierced jewellery, adult toys, and swimwear or lingerie if the hygiene seal is not in place or has been broken.

Items of footwear and/or clothing must be unworn and unwashed with the original labels attached. Also, footwear must be tried on indoors. Items of homeware including bedlinen, mattresses, and toppers, and pillows must be unused and in their original unopened packaging. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Click here to view our full Returns Policy.