I bought this book mostly because I am about to pay my second visit to Amsterdam and it just seemed so appropriate when I saw it advertised. The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam is an old school crime novel about a burglar who takes a suspicious job in Amsterdam…. This 'history' is worth reading but you need to know what you're getting. They have a massive Dutch book selection as well as nonfiction books about city of Amsterdam. Book Exchange. You should be able to find most of these these books at any decent bookstore in Amsterdam, however I have some favorites. There's a problem loading this menu right now. It's very well written and quite quirky (in a good way). And in freedom, most people find sin.”. Soooo good! While I haven’t been able to get into these, they were highly recommended by friends of mine who are literature lovers. It probably helps if you have visited the city as Mr Shorto does an excellent job of placing you in the narrative and if you can visualise what he is telling us so much the better. This was a great book on the history of Amsterdam. I liked the Coffee Trader although it’s not my favorite book. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City. Quite a good read and great context for the influence of Amsterdam on the history of Western thought, Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2015. I’ve been living in Amsterdam and these are my favorite books about Amsterdam. We imagine that we have an understanding of the soul of the city, that we can appreciate her, and why she is as she is today. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. The Bookshop of the World allows us to distil a wonderful list of superlatives: at … Between mouthfuls of food and over the polite scrapings of cutlery, the conversation remains a gentle hum of polite discourse — the banality of work, the triviality of the holidays. I found it first on a cruise ship in the well-stocked library and was returning at journeys end to Amsterdam. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. It’s big, so you might not finish Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City before your trip to Amsterdam, but you’ll be fascinated to learn how Amsterdam became the most liberal city in the world. Author relates varying experiences based on the class structures of the times. The author gives a lot of interesting details about the buildings and the history of them. There are highs and lows along the way, weaving a rich tale about the city. Currently reading Anne Frank’s Diary and really wish that I’d done that before visiting the house (: I found Geert Mak’s ‘A brief life of the city’ fascinating. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. All in all I'd have to put this up there with Ackroyd's London as a compelling and immersive story of what was and indeed still is an interesting, beautiful and important city. This book about the Golden Age of Amsterdam is a tale of tulips, art, and romance. The Black Tulip is a classic book about the Netherlands by Alexandre Dumas (yes, that one!). If you’re a cat lover, I so recommend bringing home this delightful local read about the cats of Amsterdam. Quite a good read for a history book and certainly engaging. A pleasure to savor on many levels.” —The Seattle Times “Rich and eventful. . Please check our disclosure page for more information. Russel Shorto's book about the origin of liberalism closely related to the history of Amsterdam and The Netherlands is a masterpiece of a short and deep insight in the history. Unable to add item to List. Your email address will not be published. New York: Anchor Books, 1999. It’s a family drama book, so if this is what you enjoy, it’s supposed to be heart-warming. Spui 14-16, Amsterdam Opening Hours: Mon 11:00 – 19:00, Tue-Sat 9:30 – 19:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:30 Located on one of the most bookish places in Amsterdam, the Spui Square, Athenaeum has a huge stock of magazines from all over the world and a good selection of English non-fiction books. You can only find this book at the local bookstores. Miguel Lienzo, a sharp-witted trader in the city’s close-knit community of Portuguese Jews, knows this only too well. It also helps if you have visited the many excellent museums in Amsterdam and seen some of the iconic works of art and memorabilia as this book refers to many of them as representative of events in the city's past. Amsterdam book. One of my favorite things to do is to pick up a book about a destination before I get there. This is a very readable book, more a 'biography' of the city rather than a history with lots of little personal anecdotes from an author who obviously loves the city but is not afraid to confront some of the less salubrious stories. A pleasure to savor on many levels.”, Russell Shorto is the author of five books and is a contributing writer at the. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. You think you know what this country is like...all about...not a chance! I found Geert Mak’s history of Amsterdam interesting but somewhat depressing: Shorto gives a much more optimistic view. Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2018. Pretty dry--but then again I don't usually read straight history books. Filed Under: Amsterdam, Europe, Local Guides, The Netherlands, Travel Tagged With: Amsterdam, europe, literature, Netherlands, Travel. Anne and her family lived in hiding from the Nazis for more than two years in a house on the Prinsengracht. Something went wrong. This collection of 18 stories explores Amsterdam from the 17th to 21st century via fiction, memoirs, and anecdotes. Dam Square. . It also introduced me to the concept of secret churches, which you can visit while you’re in Amsterdam. Once among the city’s most envied merchants, Miguel has lost everything in a sudden shift in the sugar markets. The Coffee Trader. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. I can't recommend it highly enough. Terrific series of historic stories woven into a narrative of how Amsterdam can be viewed as a harbinger of liberalism in the Western world. This finely spun and illuminating history of Amsterdam explores both a city and an idea. It’s about a teen that has terminal cancer in Amsterdam…, “Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. Planning a trip to Europe? This book links historical basis for a tolerant (liberal) and free society already in the 1500's with how the Western world evolved. I enjoyed Reunion, by L.Coulomb. Thank you for your very interesting blog. Now, impoverished and humiliated, living on the charity of his petty younger brother, Miguel must find a way to restore his wealth and reputation. Tulip Fever was recently made into a movie, however if you’re looking for a beautifully written book that will transport you to another era, this is your book. We have a supportive community. A one-man business, this independent store has non-fiction and travel books downstairs, fiction upstairs plus a basement with fantasy, psychology and politics. It’s sharp, twisting, and a fun read that you’ll burn through. Amsterdam, the greatest planned city of northern Europe, has always been a well-known name in world history and played a central role in the history of the Netherlands.In the 17th century Amsterdam was the centre of world economy, and nowadays the city is known for its tolerant character. Keep up the good work! Amsterdam: A history of the world's most liberal city by Russell Shorto The acclaimed American author – who lived in Amsterdam for a number of years – tells the story of Amsterdam and its liberal evolution. It’s a fun historical … Audio book sample courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio. Amsterdam does conjure a unique sense of unprecedented charm which neither Paris or London can offer. Amsterdam Tales (translated by Paul Vincent, 2017). I finished it in 2 days. Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City Russell Shorto. . . Shorto has dug into the substrata of the town to find just those interesting things that define the metropolis. The level of detail is extraordinary and it's so readable. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam A marvellously readable book on the history of this city! Non-linear in the best sort of way, this book covers the bits and pieces and sweeping presence of Amsterdam. In fact, I read it twice and took it with me to Amsterdam and visited many of the places he mentioned. being able to walk to the location of the world's first stock exchange (on a bridge!). Amsterdam » Basic Facts » History Amsterdam. The dutch man said, "those of us from here feel a little less positive about our past". Read 28 858 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. New Amsterdam: The History of the Dutch Settlement Before It Became New York City chronicles the origins of the settlement and profiles the indigenous people who were there. American expat and cat lover from New York City who lived in Amsterdam…. Required fields are marked *. THIS is an incredible book! Anne Frank is one of Amsterdam’s best-known historical figures. Perhaps out of deference to his adopted city, he avoids much of the controversial issues of Dutch colonialism in the more modern day context. -- The New Yorker "Delightfully eccentric history. He also has the ability to bring that city to life for us. Geert Mak ’ s most envied merchants, miguel has lost everything in a house on the.... Us from here feel a little less positive about our past '' 're getting who takes a suspicious in. A rich tale about the Golden Age of Amsterdam is a contributing writer at the at decent... Reviewed in the city re in Amsterdam and visited many of the times one! ) book so. 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