New York Underground: The Anatomy of a City
by Julia Solis
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Book Summary Information
Author: Julia SolisEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-10-30
ISBN: 0415963109
Number of pages: 296
Publisher: Routledge
Book Reviews of New York Underground: The Anatomy of a City
Book Review: Expansive View of World Beneath the City
Summary: 5 Stars
My expectations for this book were exceeded, and those were high expectations to begin with. I thought the book would only be about major underground systems that are well known, such as the subways and train tunnels. This book has a lot more to offer. There is, for example, a section on tunnels beneath Chinatown and their use during the tong wars at the beginning of the 20th century. There are pieces on tunnels beneath specific buildings, such as Grand Central Terminal and Columbia University. The mystery of the Atlantic Avenue tunnel goes beyond well trod ground and discusses the search for a long lost train. The foundations created for the original World Trade Center are explained (and yes, there are picture of some of the subway tunnel destruction caused from 9/11). There are segments on gas pipes, the aqueduct system, telephone systems, etc. One is left with the impression that life below the street is almost as active as what goes on above the street. I highly recommend the book. Also, the author has a very good writing style. One commenter said the book was too much about the author. To me that made the book more enjoyable and put me into the action, as if I was part of the exploration team. For example, the recounting of taking a boat ride (and swimming) inside the Croton aqueduct was inspirational. Or, the meetup with the subway worker who talked about the subway beneath the Waldorf Astoria gave the book a human touch.
Summary of New York Underground: The Anatomy of a City
Did alligators ever really live in New York's sewers? What's it like to explore the old aqueducts beneath the city? How many levels are beneath Grand Central Station? And how exactly did the pneumatic tube system that New York's post offices used to employ work?
In this richly illustrated historical tour of New York's vast underground systems, Julia Solis answers all these questions and much, much more. New York Underground takes readers through ingenious criminal escape routes, abandoned subway stations, and dark crypts beneath lower Manhattan to expose the city's basic anatomy. While the city is justly famous for what lies above ground, its underground passages are equally legendary and tell us just as much about how the city works.
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