A critique of Russell Shorto's book "The Island at the Center of the World".
Written in 2008; 1,327 words; 1 sources; MLA; $ 44.95
Paper Summary:
This paper introduces and analyzes the book "The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America" by Russell Shorto. The paper explains that the main thesis of Shorto's book is the early history of New York, focusing specifically on the New Netherlands Dutch colony and its influence on the city and state of New York. The paper concludes that Shorto's book is an interesting and informative text on early New York history that offers up information not as common as many other history texts.
From the Paper:
"This books contribution to the issue of United States history is great. In fact, it looks at an area of American history that is often forgotten or overlooked, and helps show how the Dutch influence in New York has permeated many things we take for granted today in society, such as using Santa Claus as a Christmas symbol, and how Dutch politics helped influence the Revolutionary War and revolutionary ideals (Shorto 314-315). This book shows how American settlement in New York began as a scheme of the Dutch West India Company to gain control over more land and riches they could export to Europe, and how pervasive these companies were in settling (and subjugating) nations and peoples around the world. We often think that most people came to America to gain religious freedom (and many did), but they also came hoping to find prosperity and even great wealth by discovering new items to export to Europe. New Amsterdam was a settlement created out of commerce, rather than religious survival, and that is an important distinction to remember in American culture and history. As far as weaknesses, if there are any weaknesses in this book, it may be the way the author attempts to "tell a story" in a nonfiction text, such as the beginning when he speculates about Henry Hudson's travels in London. Historians might not approve of this approach, because it cannot really be historically verified, but I think it made the book more interesting and appealing to the lay reader. You do not have to be a student of history to appreciate this book, and that means that it is appealing to more readers and more people may read it and learn more about American history."
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