Conquering Gotham

The Construction of Penn Station and Its Tunnels

De: Jill Jonnes

Narrado por: David Drummond

The demolition of Penn Station in 1963 destroyed not just a soaring neoclassical edifice, but also a building that commemorated one of the last century's great engineering feats: the construction of railroad tunnels into New York City.

Now, in this gripping narrative, Jill Jonnes tells this fascinating story - a high-stakes drama that pitted the money and will of the nation's mightiest railroad against the corruption of Tammany Hall, the unruly forces of nature, and the machinations of labor agitators.

In 1901, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Alexander Cassatt, determined that it was technically feasible to build a system of tunnels connecting Manhattan to New Jersey and Long Island. Confronted by payoff-hungry politicians, brutal underground working conditions, and disastrous blowouts and explosions, it would take him nearly a decade to make Penn Station and its tunnels a reality.

©2007 Jill Jonnes (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"An exemplary construction epic." ( Booklist)
"An important addition to the popular literature of...New York." ( Publishers Weekly)

Business history

This was a good book, and it did make me feel better that politicians are probably a little better now than they were then. Only criticism is that I doubt Cassatt was the saint she makes him out to be. You don't rise to that level by being a 'nice guy' even if you're very honest and forthright, and have the best of intentions.

Amazing historic book

The book is a compendium of stories related to the construction of the tunnel that connects Manhattan island to the mainland. The flow of the book is ok, some details did not have a meaning to me.

Must read for Railroad History buffs

I really enjoyed the story. Great quotes and historical background on the construction of the Pennsylvania station and the East River tunnels. Important context given the current discussion on the new replacement tunnels.

Everything but the pictures

I have been listening to books about the history of NYC and this was a great addition. The story is engaging and it was interesting to learn how a railroad centered in Philadelphia could have such an impact on Manhattan, but maybe not as much as it would have liked. I do wish the narrator had done a bit more homework on pronunciation of place names like Haverford and Bala Cynwyd. As a native of that area, I found the mispronunciations jarring. A very small complaint.

A Project Greater than the Technology of its Day

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend because of the story. Even though we know that New York Penn Station was built and the tunnels were completed, hearing the amazing feats of engineering that needed to be accomplished and fact that they did not completely understand all that they were doing makes for an engaging story. And then there is the political corruption in New York at the time and how the Pennsylvania Rail Road refused to do anything underhanded to build these projects. It is surprising how much depended on luck and determination.

Have you listened to any of David Drummond’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first performance that I have heard of David Drummond's. He was an exceptional reader.

Perhaps Americans deserve to scuttle in like rats.

Fifty-three years. It only stood for fifty three years. That it was even built at all is amazing.
Jill Jonnes is a truly talented author who pays magnificent homage to the perfect storm of talent and foresight, and ideas and ideals, that combined to create the impossible, the miraculously beautiful public edifice known as Pennsylvania Station.
The book is meticulously crafted like the building itself; not a word is uninteresting not a thought is boring.
She patiently ilucidates the complex and fascinating history; with its intricate tapestry, intertwining graft, arrogance, ignorance, and outright manipulation of the miserable masses during the age of robber barons and unbridled capitalism. She brings necessary attention to those who are shamefully unfamiliar with their city’s loss due to a monumental act of corporate vandalism, civic barbarism and embarrassing public apathy.

Excellent book

It was filled with information about NYC in that era. It gave proper context to subject. And Well narrated too.

Brilliant

An absolutely wonderful history book. A compelling tale brought to life by an excellent author and an excellent reader. Highly recommend for anyone who likes history, trains, New York City, or stories set in the early-20th century.

Well told story. Engaging and a bit suspenseful

I was as really surprised about this piece of American history and technology. It was even a little suspenseful. Not knowing anything about this I was surprised and emotional at the ending. This a good read and/listen.

A good tale of the times

Being a fan of history and railroading, I chose this book on a whim because Audible doesn't have an enormous choice of books which cover both of those subject fields simultaneously: Beggars can't be choosers. Nonetheless... I got lucky. The writer tells a story that is informative and interesting. It is entertaining and educational. The descriptions of political and industrial scandal and achievement will cause you to draw comparisons between Andrew Carnegie and Bill Gates. Between Boss Tweed and Huey Long. Between Google and the PRR. The French have a phrase: "Plus ca change, plus c'est pareil" (The more things change, the more they stay the same).

This book describes the political and business atmosphere of the early 1900s in New York, and what it took physically, monetarily, politically, and socially, to build tunnels under New York's rivers that would allow the PRR's trains to come straight into Manhattan instead of having the passengers debark from their trains in New Jersey to take the ferry across. The entire exercise was a turning point in New York's coming of age in being the major metropolis of the United States and a global force to be reckoned with. The narrator blends into the background for the most part, leaving the story to tell itself. When you listen to a story and don't hear the telling, you know that it was well written, and that the story teller treated the material as superior to his or her ego.

There are some books that you will read (or listen to) many times because you like the tale, or the author, or because you want to pick up on the little bits that you missed the last time. I won't listen to this book a dozen times, but I will listen to it three or four more times because the tale is good. It speaks of courage and conviction and crime and corruption. The good people are inspiring and the sociopaths will make you wonder why we still have people like the Ken Lays and Jack Abramoffs of the world.