A celebration of the colourful history and modern street life of the capital of the American dream - home to a thousand races and the aspirations of the world. All the familiar landmarks are there: the bridges; the skyscrapers; the museums and art galleries; the treasures; the monuments; the famous squares; the maritime heritage; the city at night; China town; Little Naples; Greenwich Village; Brooklyn; Harlem; Plus, an illustrated historical account of the city's foundation & development: the Algonquin, Chippewa & Iroquois; Samuel de Champlain; Henry Hudson; the Manhattan Island settlement; New Amsterdam; Peter Stuyvesant; British New York; Colonial years; Columbia University; the Stamp Act of 1731; Declaration of Independence; Battle of Long Island; 19th century prosperity; Railways and bridges; Statue of Liberty; Mass immigration; the sweatshops; the flatiron skyscrapers; Prohibition; Gangsters; Wall Street crashes, 1929 & 1987; Places and History: celebrating the world's most beautiful cities and most fascinating and intriguing regions; celebrating their historic and cultural importance; celebrating their natural beauty. The history of each location is shown in original prints and paintings. The modern scene is explored in glorious colour photos and with a travel writer's experienced eye. In full colour: with 165 colour photographs, 50 historic prints & maps, 2 pull-out spreads, plus 59 b + w photographs.