New York

From The Big Apple to The City that Never Sleeps, New York has many identities. This most kinetic of cities has myriad meanings and shifting identities – it is a jumble of peoples and cultures, a capital of finance and commerce and a mecca of fashion, art and entertainment. It is the home of the United Nations and Wall Street, and also the destination for millions of tourists each year. It is difficult to make sense of a place as loud, bright and busy as NYC, but this concise and witty guidebook is a sane place to start.Mixing a historical perspective with high and low culture, New York traces the development of the city from a Dutch trading post to a world capital of business, media and the arts, introducing readers to its most important – and colourful – dramatis personae along the way. A rich account of the city’s past is followed by a series of ruminations on New York today – its natural landmarks, unnatural gin joints, immigrant enclaves and even its noises; the book also provides considered, eclectic lists of where to eat, drink and shop and what to see, hear and do.A measured and engaging account from a native New Yorker complemented by illustrations both historical and contemporary, New York takes a broad-ranging approach that will leave readers with a fresh insight into this elusive, shape-shifting metropolis.