Broadway Audiobook By Fran Leadon cover art

Broadway

A History of New York City in Thirteen Miles

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Broadway

By: Fran Leadon
Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
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Broadway takes us on a mile-by-mile journey that traces the gradual evolution of the 17th century's Brede Wegh, a muddy cow path in a backwater Dutch settlement, to the 20th century's Great White Way. We learn why one side of the street was once considered more fashionable than the other; witness construction of the Ansonia Apartments, Trinity Church, and the Flatiron Building and the burning of P. T. Barnum's American Museum; and discover that Columbia University was built on the site of an insane asylum.

Along the way we meet Alexander Hamilton, Edgar Allan Poe, John James Audubon, Emma Goldman, "Bill the Butcher" Poole, "Texas" Guinan, and the assorted real estate speculators, impresarios, and politicians who helped turn Broadway into a living paradigm of American progress, at its best and worst. Broadway tells the vivid story of what is arguably the world's most famous thoroughfare.

©2018 Fran Leadon (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Americas Architecture State & Local United States
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This fascinating book covers the most fascinating stretch of land on the planet. An amazing account of not only New York history, but also a significant part of American history.

Another reason to love NYC.

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Lots of history for a New Yorker who is fascinated by old buildings and the past.

Old History

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Wow! I grew up in NYC and learned a bit about the history of NYC but this is the mother lode as far as Broadway is concerned. There is so much history that relates to the main street of NYC. The book divides Broadway into approximate miles and each section is chock full of fascinating history and a wealth of anecdotes about the famous and "near" famous. The history of each mile comes right up to the present day. Kevin Pariseau is excellent as narrator. The book will leave you wondering how Fran Leadon found so much information and put it together in such an entertaining way.

Give My Regards To Broadway!

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Sometimes I find a book and think, “That idea is brilliant. How did no one think of it earlier?” This is the paradigmatic example. The author tells the history of Broadway in 13 parts— one for each of its miles in Manhattan.

The product is worthy of the idea. I adored it. Though I have lived in or near NYC for most of my life, I learned something almost every minute.

Moreover, the narrator is absolutely perfect. Gosh, I wish that I had his voice. And with the “Plus Catalog,” the price is perfect!

Fantastic!

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I loved this book so much I want to start it over and do it again (and I will). I can only hope the author does more like this. Not your typical history book, this one is full of stories and imagery that transport you to another era.

Informative, Entertaining, Fascinating

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As a longtime student of New York City history, I found this to be a marvelous tale of the cultural development of the City. Entertaining and informative.

A must for lovers of NYC history.

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Very thorough history of Broadway. so much detail and it is always changing. Very comprehensive.

Broadway history

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This is a fascinating story about on street! The author bri gs the history of Broadway to life.

History

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When the author related the history of the neighborhoods, the book was EXCELLENT. However, about half the book is filled with dumb anecdotes about historical figures (some well known, some not). These silly stories (in my opinion) ruined the flow of the topic of the book. These stories were particularly lengthy in the first part of the book. When the book reached the section covering the Upper West Side, it was outstanding and I was hoping that the dumb anecdotes were a all done, but they reappeared in later sections. Again the actual history of the road and the neighborhoods were outstanding and I wish the entire book had been devoted to the subject of the history of the road and its neighborhoods.

Great History Undermined by Silly Anecdotes

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