San Diego, California: A Photographic Portrait Book

Probably one of the best release this year from eminent publishers Alfred A. Knopf, New York: An Illustrated History is a coffee table book like no other. Published as a companion to the well-know PBS series on the history of New York, this book serves as a unique tome on its own, destined for every library in the country - in home, school or public.

You are taken on a journey through New York's past, in it's founding stages as New Amsterdam, into the nineteenth century, with the upheavals of the evil war, on through the twentieth century with prohibition and the immense builds of the time - the Empire State and the Twin Towers - on up to the present day, ending with a solemn photo of what remains of the World Trade Center.

Words follow with pictures, like vanilla and chocolate ice cream, two great flavors that belong together, and here become one delicious mixture. Time seems to have no effect here, with the ample pictures and drawings from the time New York was owned by Holland, up to the beautiful color photos of its majestic skyscrapers and architecture of today.

Originally published on December 3rd 2001.

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