--- product_id: 237635 title: "The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America" price: "169.73 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/237635-the-island-at-the-center-of-the-world-the-epic store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America **Price:** 169.73 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America - **How much does it cost?** 169.73 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/237635-the-island-at-the-center-of-the-world-the-epic) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description In a riveting, groundbreaking narrative, Russell Shorto tells the story of New Netherland, the Dutch colony which pre-dated the Pilgrims and established ideals of tolerance and individual rights that shaped American history. UPDATED EDITION WITH A NEW PREFACE AND POSTSCRIPT "Astonishing . . . A book that will permanently alter the way we regard our collective past." -- The New York Times When the British wrested New Amsterdam from the Dutch in 1664, the truth about its thriving, polyglot society began to disappear into myths about an island purchased for 24 dollars and a cartoonish peg-legged governor. But the story of the Dutch colony of New Netherland was merely lost, not destroyed: 12,000 pages of its records–recently declared a national treasure–are now being translated. Russell Shorto draws on this remarkable archive in The Island at the Center of the World , which has been hailed by The New York Times as “a book that will permanently alter the way we regard our collective past.” The Dutch colony pre-dated the “original” thirteen colonies, yet it seems strikingly familiar. Its capital was cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic, and its citizens valued free trade, individual rights, and religious freedom. Their champion was a progressive, young lawyer named Adriaen van der Donck, who emerges in these pages as a forgotten American patriot and whose political vision brought him into conflict with Peter Stuyvesant, the autocratic director of the Dutch colony. The struggle between these two strong-willed men laid the foundation for New York City and helped shape American culture. The Island at the Center of the World uncovers a lost world and offers a surprising new perspective on our own. Review: Wonderful Read about 17th century New Netherlands - If your interested in Early NY state or city you need to give this book a read. It does a wonderful job painting the 17th century world when the Dutch founded New Netherland's the first European colony in what would become New York. He is maybe a little too harsh on the English occasionally as he is trying to prove how the Dutch are just as worthy of praise for American founding as the English, but he does a very good job comparing the Dutch and Early New Netherlands. The book is really a triumph of non-fiction historical narrative. It really is the story of the Dutch founding of New Netherlands told in a compelling way with several main characters like Van Der Donck and Director Kieft. I loved the small details that let you imagine how different the 17th century world was even from that of the 18th century. He mentions armour several times and Pikes (long spears) that were used in the 17th century as relics of the Middle Ages. Details of the colonies early Forts and houses is also interesting. He also includes Dutch European history at the time and their war with the Spanish which is pretty crucial to the story. Anyone interested in 17th century colonization should give this a read. His argument that the Dutch broader idea of tolerance affected America just as much as the Puritans is interesting and even if you don't 100% agree it's still a wonderful read and paints Early New York in a way no other book I've read before does. Review: Great book on the impact of New Amsterdam and the Dutch on the America - I liked this book - a lot! I like it so much I've bought copies for several family members and friends. I like it so much that I will not part with my own copy, but intend to keep it in my small library. The Island at the Center of the World is the story of Dutch Manhattan and the Hudson north to Albany. It covers the time period from the first establishment of a trading colony by the Dutch until the colony was surrendered to the British, a period of some sixty years. Having lived near the Hudson, paddled its waters and spent time in New York City the book has special meaning because there is so much that is familiar in it, yet I knew nothing of its genesis or how it still impacts my life today. For instance, I find it fascinating that Broadway was an Indian trading route before the Dutch arrived. It continues today on much of its original path. The Dutch were traders, not nation builders. They opened their doors to anyone and everyone who wanted to work and do business. This created a cosmopolitan mixture of races, religions, values and customs that generated a tolerance for and acceptance of differences that continues to this day in that great city. The fact that the Dutch were focused on business and trade rather than religion and nation building is one reason why New York became a world trading center and the state earned the title of "Empire State". We who have grown up in the state and lived along the Hudson will recognize the familiar names of Schuyler and Van Rensselaer and be surprised at how Yonkers got its name. We all know the story of how Manhattan was purchased for $24.00 worth of trinkets, but will be surprised at the Dutch traders understanding of Indian ideas of property ownership. This allowed them to live and work peacefully side-by-side for many years. You will see how the caricature of the peg legged governor, Peter Stuyvesant, does such an injustice to the real man. You will learn how the tradesmen's struggles to establish self-government that incorporated ideals of free trade, individual rights, and religious freedom set the tone for what would become the Thirteen Colonies and the United States Constitution. This book is extremely well researched and written. Shorto somehow makes a great yarn out of a scholarly work on this original Dutch colony. I can't recommend it highly enough. The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #26,674 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #3 in Amsterdam Travel Guides #13 in U.S. Colonial Period History #91 in U.S. State & Local History | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,226 Reviews | ## Images ![The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91ZJXptSPeL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Language, Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wonderful Read about 17th century New Netherlands *by G***R on June 16, 2024* If your interested in Early NY state or city you need to give this book a read. It does a wonderful job painting the 17th century world when the Dutch founded New Netherland's the first European colony in what would become New York. He is maybe a little too harsh on the English occasionally as he is trying to prove how the Dutch are just as worthy of praise for American founding as the English, but he does a very good job comparing the Dutch and Early New Netherlands. The book is really a triumph of non-fiction historical narrative. It really is the story of the Dutch founding of New Netherlands told in a compelling way with several main characters like Van Der Donck and Director Kieft. I loved the small details that let you imagine how different the 17th century world was even from that of the 18th century. He mentions armour several times and Pikes (long spears) that were used in the 17th century as relics of the Middle Ages. Details of the colonies early Forts and houses is also interesting. He also includes Dutch European history at the time and their war with the Spanish which is pretty crucial to the story. Anyone interested in 17th century colonization should give this a read. His argument that the Dutch broader idea of tolerance affected America just as much as the Puritans is interesting and even if you don't 100% agree it's still a wonderful read and paints Early New York in a way no other book I've read before does. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book on the impact of New Amsterdam and the Dutch on the America *by D***L on May 10, 2012* I liked this book - a lot! I like it so much I've bought copies for several family members and friends. I like it so much that I will not part with my own copy, but intend to keep it in my small library. The Island at the Center of the World is the story of Dutch Manhattan and the Hudson north to Albany. It covers the time period from the first establishment of a trading colony by the Dutch until the colony was surrendered to the British, a period of some sixty years. Having lived near the Hudson, paddled its waters and spent time in New York City the book has special meaning because there is so much that is familiar in it, yet I knew nothing of its genesis or how it still impacts my life today. For instance, I find it fascinating that Broadway was an Indian trading route before the Dutch arrived. It continues today on much of its original path. The Dutch were traders, not nation builders. They opened their doors to anyone and everyone who wanted to work and do business. This created a cosmopolitan mixture of races, religions, values and customs that generated a tolerance for and acceptance of differences that continues to this day in that great city. The fact that the Dutch were focused on business and trade rather than religion and nation building is one reason why New York became a world trading center and the state earned the title of "Empire State". We who have grown up in the state and lived along the Hudson will recognize the familiar names of Schuyler and Van Rensselaer and be surprised at how Yonkers got its name. We all know the story of how Manhattan was purchased for $24.00 worth of trinkets, but will be surprised at the Dutch traders understanding of Indian ideas of property ownership. This allowed them to live and work peacefully side-by-side for many years. You will see how the caricature of the peg legged governor, Peter Stuyvesant, does such an injustice to the real man. You will learn how the tradesmen's struggles to establish self-government that incorporated ideals of free trade, individual rights, and religious freedom set the tone for what would become the Thirteen Colonies and the United States Constitution. This book is extremely well researched and written. Shorto somehow makes a great yarn out of a scholarly work on this original Dutch colony. I can't recommend it highly enough. The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great story, could have been told better *by H***N on July 15, 2005* For those who are from the New York City area or have an interest in it, the story of the pioneering Dutch settlement there is truly fascinating. I'm not sure Russell Shorto is the person to tell it, but, nevertheless, the book is out there. He states that no one else before him has told it quite like him because of a new, large cache of previously untranslated Old Dutch language documents from that era that have only recently been translated and became available to him and other researchers. In short, he writes like a tabloid newspaper writer who must now write a serious piece. It is very annoying that he constantly uses artistic license to recreate possible conversations and occurrences. Furthermore, it is clear that his perspective on the early history of New York (New Netherlands) and the rest of the world lacks depth. The book reads, but I was always wondering what I might have been missing. To be fair, however, the book does tell a story effectively, and it does have an impressive bibliography. And when he just sticks to the facts the book gets even more interesting and believable. It is also great to discover the Dutch origins of many aspects of the City, such as Yonkers, Bronx, Broadway, the Bowery, Wall Street, etc., etc. It is also great to get an idea of who Stuyvesant was, but learning about the other founders, Van der Donck and Kieft, was just as fascinating. Learning about how the British selfishly and forcibly stole the settlement from the Dutch futher opened my eyes. Furthermore, Shorto also opened my eyes to Sweden's pioneering colonial involvement in what is now the state of Delaware. I just wonder how others would have written this story. It seems like most of the story came from sources other than this newly discovered cache of Dutch documents. As an aside, after reading this book, you will be titilated by reading Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkel and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other stories he wrote that take place in Old Dutch settlement here. In the early 1800's, when Irving wrote, he was extremely popular. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America - Amsterdam - Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/237635-the-island-at-the-center-of-the-world-the-epic](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/237635-the-island-at-the-center-of-the-world-the-epic) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-10-20*