The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America

The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America

By Russell Shorto

384 pages

For centuries, New Netherland was an almost forgotten Dutch colony in New England. However, Russell Shorto brings the settlement to life. The region was explored by Henry Hudson. Eventually, the Hudson River was named after him. The colony, in which New Amsterdam (Manhattan) was the main settlement, existed for decades until the English victory in 1664. Today, the vast area covers part of five states.

Although the historical records are sparse at times, the author reconstructs the lives of many of the residents including several directors of the settlement, Peter Minuit, William Kieft, and Peter Stuyvesant. The most interesting character was Adriaen van der Donck, an educated lawyer who embraced the colony and was committed to individual freedoms of the residents.