Workmanlike and thorough though it is, mcculloughs history of the bridge has more bulk than stature. The dramatic and enthralling story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, the worlds longest suspension bridge at the time, a tale of greed, corruption, and obstruction but also of optimism. His other acclaimed books include the johnstown flood, the great bridge, brave companions, 1776, the greater journey, the american spirit, and the wright brothers. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, published by simon and schuster. The height of the towers above the water is 276 feet. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge new york. Showing results for the great bridge by david mccullough.
Theres a ton of detail on the construction of the caisson foundations that would answer most of your questions. Construction of the brooklyn bridge took 14 yearsand. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge abridged by david mccullough isbn. The great bridge book by david mccullough official. Todays post comes from sonia kahn in the national archives history office. Read this book because it relates to my current profession. It is part four of a series on the history of some of the seized foreign records housed at the national archives. Construction of the brooklyn bridge began on january 2, 1870. It took 14 years to complete the project, from 1869 1883. Published on the fortieth anniversary of its initial publication, this edition of the classic book contains a new preface by david mccullough, one of our most gifted living writers the washington post.
He was called a man of iron, says historian david mccullough. Realizing each community stands to benefit from a land link between them, brooklyn and manhattan politicians obtain from the new york assembly a charter for a private company to build a bridge. Mccullough talked about his writings and his career and responded to audience telephone calls. Mccullough also focuses on the politics and people behind the bridge, and finishes his masterpiece by quoting an elderly woman from long island that remembers that the excitement in 1969, when two men walked on the moon, was nothing compared to the day the brooklyn bridge opened. Authors view of bridge spans gap in history the new york times. David mccullough talks about the brooklyn bridge youtube. The great bridge by david mccullough readers group guide 1. David mccullough books list of books by author david. In his book the great bridge, author david mccullough writes that the construction took the lives of 21 men. Showing results for the great bridge by david mccullough in. Jan 01, 1972 the book the great bridge by david mccullough was a very detailed account of the long and troublesome building of the brooklyn bridge.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The roeblingsfather and sontoiled for decades, fighting. Built to join the rapidly expanding cities of new york and brooklyn, the brooklyn bridge was thought by many at the start to be an impossibility destined to fail if not. Of all the engineering advances in the 1800s, the brooklyn bridge stands out as perhaps the most famous and most remarkable. However, it is not that engaging or entertaining as a story, compared to similar historical books like the power broker. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. It s a rare historian who can write books that appeal to a huge popular audience while sacrificing none of his integrity as a scholar and researcher. Construction of the brooklyn bridge season 1 brooklyn.
In the 19th century, the brooklyn bridge was viewed as the greatest engineering feat of mankind. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge pdf epub book. This new design stabilized bridge construction and made such engineering problems a thing of the past. The brooklyn bridge rose out of the expansive era following the civil war, when americans believed all things were possible. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great bridge. Feb 05, 2014 washington roebling was not the bridge s last victim. Truman, john adams, the brooklyn bridge, and the wright brothers. The rebirth of the brooklyn bridge pascoe, elaine, the brooklyn bridge building america, 1999, blackbirch marketing.
Jul 08, 20 mccullough is the author of the great bridge, which was first published 40 years ago. To make matters worse, mccullough dutifully struggles through the administrative history of the brooklyn bridge company which financed and contracted for the project with the help of the tweed machine and various brooklyn bosses who profited handsomely amid continuous allegations of kickbacks and mismanagement of funds. It took 14 years to build and it cost 15 million dollars and the lives of 20 workmen. The first work entailed the construction of two caissons, upon which the suspension towers would be built. The great bridge links politics, engineering and human drama in telling the epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, from 1869 to 1883. Often described as a suspension bridge, the structure is in reality a hybrid suspensioncable stayed bridge, with the load of the span transferred by wire cables to the towers, and thence to the bedrock on the brooklyn side, and the sand over the bedrock on the manhattan side. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The great bridge the dramatic and enthralling story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, the worlds longest suspension bridge at the time, a tale of greed, corruption, and obstruction but also of optimism, heroism, and determination, told by master historian david mccullough. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge by david mccullough 1983, paperback, reprint at the best online prices at ebay.
Brooklyn eagle owner, henry murphy, formed the new york bridge company to finance the project. On may 24, 1883, the brooklyn bridge over the east river opened, connecting the great cities of new york and brooklyn for the first time in history. It is a good book as far as research and clear writing. Mar 12, 2020 published on the fortieth anniversary of its initial publication, this edition of the classic book contains a new preface by david mccullough, one of our most gifted living writers the washington post.
It took more than a decade to build, cost the life of its designer, and was constantly criticized by skeptics who predicted the entire structure was going to collapse into new yorks east river. Tempo shock david mccullough is the author of such works as truman and the great bridge. Mccullough estimates that, over the course of its construction, at least 27 workers were killed in falls, by falling stones, by crashing. Imagining germany in april 1945 conjures up images of destruction and despair as the war in europe drew to a close. From conception to construction, it traces the bridge s transformation from a spectacular feat of heroic engineering to an honored symbol in american culture. This audio book of david mcculloughs the great bridge is the account of one of americas greatest engineering featsthe building of the brooklyn bridge. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge kindle edition by mccullough, david. Aug, 2017 american modernist poet hart crane used the brooklyn bridge as a central metaphor and organizing structure for his second and most important book of poetry, the bridge.
What david mccullough has written is a stupendous narrative about the building of the brooklyn bridge, with a cast of thousands give or take 100, whose major characters come alive on the page as authentically, as creatively, as would their fictional counterparts if one had the imagination to dream up such a yarn. The construction of the brooklyn bridge consists of two granite towers and a series of steel cables. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge ebook written by david mccullough. May 15, 2012 the dramatic and enthralling story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, the worlds longest suspension bridge at the time, a tale of greed, corruption, and obstruction but also of optimism, heroism, and determination, told by master historian david mccullough. Construction of the brooklyn bridge took 14 yearsand multiple lives. Like the atlantic cable and the suez canal it was a gigantic embodiment in steel and concrete of the age of enterprise. Roebling didnt invent spun wire roping, either, yet he became wealthy by patenting processes and manufacturing cables for bridges and aqueducts.
Born and raised in pittsburgh, mccullough earned a degree in english literature from yale university. David mccullough has twice received the pulitzer prize, for truman and john adams, and twice received the national book award, for the path between the seas and mornings on horseback. Brooklyn bridge historian mccullough denounces dock st. The short answer on keeping the caissons level is that they were monitored very closely. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge paperback january 12, 1983. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. This monumental book tells the enthralling story of one of the greatest accomplishments in our nations history, the building of what was then the longest suspension bridge in the world. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge 2002. The great bridge by david mccullough the epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge my thoughts. Burns drew heavily on mccullough s book for the film and used him as narrator.
Built to join the rapidly expanding cities of new york and brooklyn, the brooklyn bridge was thought by many at the start to be an impossibility destined to fail if not from. Roebling died july 22, 1869, at age 63, from a tetanus infection after crushing his foot on the construction site of the brooklyn bridge. Ironically, the view to the bridge in this picture would not be affected by the development. David mccullough, whose most recent book is mornings on horseback, a biography of theodore roosevelt, also wrote the great bridge. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge audiobook by david mccullough. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge audiobook on cd 9780743537230 by david mccullough. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge. It starts with john roebling and his design and plans for the building of the brooklyn bridge. His other acclaimed books include the johnstown flood, the great bridge, brave companions, 1776, the greater journey, the american spirit, and the wright. In his book the great bridge, author david mccullough writes that the construction took the lives of 21 men, most of them immigrants.
All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. The book the great bridge by david mccullough was a very detailed account of the long and troublesome building of the brooklyn bridge. This monumental book is the enthralling story of one of the greatest events in our. In 1869, conversations about the brooklyn bridge took a more serious tone and there was much opposition. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 608 pages and is available in hardcover format. In his thoughtful, considered, and intensely readable histories of american events and figures, mccullough has become one of our most trustworthy and. Jul 24, 2012 this feature is not available right now. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the great bridge. Apr 02, 2009 historian david mccullough author of a book about the brooklyn bridge spoke about against dumbo developer jed walentass plan to build a residential tower with a public school near the famed bridge. John augustus roebling, builder of the brooklyn bridge. Winning acclaim for its comprehensive look at the building of the brooklyn bridge, this book helped cement david mccullough s. Brooklyn bridge construction of the brooklyn bridge.
What david mccullough has written is a stupendous narrative about the building of the brooklyn bridge, with a cast of thousands give or take 100, whose major characters come alive on the page as authentically, as creatively, as would their fictional counterparts if one had the imagination to dream up. Oct 29, 1972 until david mccullough came across it one day in 1970 while doing research for his book, the great bridge, much of the story behind the construction of the brooklyn bridge had been gathering. This monumental book is the enthralling story of one of the greatest events in our nations history. Id recommend the book the great bridge by david mccullough if youre looking for more information on the brooklyn bridge. He is a pulitzer prizewinning historian whose books include, truman, the johnstown flood.
Sep 16, 2019 of all the engineering advances in the 1800s, the brooklyn bridge stands out as perhaps the most famous and most remarkable. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge by david mccullough in doc, fb2, fb3 download e book. American modernist poet hart crane used the brooklyn bridge as a central metaphor and organizing structure for his second and most important book of poetry, the bridge. Great bridge the epic story of the building of the brooklyn. Emily warren roebling september 23, 1843 february 28, 1903 is known for her contribution to the completion of the brooklyn bridge after her husband washington roebling developed caisson disease a. The construction of the brooklyn bridge is detailed in the 1972 book the great bridge by david mccullough and brooklyn bridge 1981, the first pbs documentary film by ken burns. This audio book of david mccullough s the great bridge is the account of one of americas greatest engineering featsthe building of the brooklyn bridge. Winning acclaim for its comprehensive look at the building of the brooklyn bridge, this book helped cement david mccullough s reputation as americas preeminent social historian. The expertly crafted book traces the history of the brooklyn bridges construction, from the lives. The dramatic and enthralling story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, the worlds longest suspension bridge at the time, a tale of greed, corruption, and obstruction but also of optimism, heroism, and determination, told by master historian david mccullough. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good history. When the east river froze over again in 1867, the need for the bridge he had envisioned became imminent. Construction of the bridge consists of two granite towers. Her husband was a civil engineer and the chief engineer during the construction of the brooklyn bridge.
The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 1972, and was written by david mccullough. The great bridge by david mccullough, 9780671457112, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. When he eventually passes away his son washington roebling takes over and continues where his father left off. Jul 15, 2019 construction of the brooklyn bridge took 14 yearsand multiple lives.
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