Tales of New York: Some Will Surprise You

By John Keatts

What does the Eiffel Tower have to do with New York City? Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb? What is a Knickerbocker? These questions and more are answered in John Keatt’s new book Tales of New York.

Keatts, a long-time resident and professional tour guide of New York City, fascinates his audience with little known facts and tidbits about the city and its interesting history.

Explore the Lower East Side, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, Soho and Harlem with a resident’s eye. Learn how the Staten Island Ferry got its start from the imagination of a poor, humble sixteen year old farm boy. Enjoy the competition and rivalry between the designers of the Chrysler and Empire State buildings, forcing each to build higher and higher.

From the United Nations to the Bowery to Central Park to Ellis Island, Mr. Keatts takes his readers on a captivating tour of the Big Apple. (Why is it called that, anyway?)

Tales of New York is a great read. The book is so well written, the reader will begin to feel as if they are actually seeing New York City. This city already captures the imagination and ambition of millions around the world; this book adds depth, character and appeal that is heretofore unknown to outsiders.

Written in short, easily digestible chapters, Tales of New York can be read straight through chapter by chapter or, if one prefers, a short perusal of the table of contents will direct the reader to a particularly interesting segment of the book. While the chapters rarely exceed seven or eight pages in length, they are jam packed with history and information delivered in a fashion that leaves no doubt that John Keatts loves “his” city. The depth of knowledge and wealth of information is sure to leave ever reader exclaiming “That is really interesting!”

Anyone planning a trip to New York City wanting more than the usual tourist experience would do well to read and learn from Keatts’ years of experience and knowledge. History lovers will enjoy collecting the little known facts that saturate the pages of this book. Tales of New York would be a wonderful addition to the library of anyone wishing to broaden their horizons and learn about one of the most famous cities in the United States of America.

This review was submitted by Kristin Pace. Kristin is a wife and mother and founder of The Book-Trotter.  She wrote her first review 20 years ago and has been reading and loving books ever since.

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