Contents: Chapter 1 The Commodore's Grand Central Chapter 2 The Engineer's Grand Central Chapter 3 The Architect's Grand Central Chapter 4 New York's Grand Central
Grand Central Terminal is the single most important building in New York City-at once a symbol of corporate capitalism, an architectural landmark, and a critical transport hub. Kurt Schlichting's thoroughly researched, well-illustrated book is the best history ever written on this vital subject. Schlichting's achievement lies in explaining Grand Central Terminal's career and in placing its complicated development squarely in the context of New York City's larger history. -- Clifton Hood, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, author of 722 Miles: The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York A lot has been written about Grand Central Terminal, but this is the first book to take the reader deeply inside the intricacies and agonies that went into creating this remarkable monument. With fascinating insights, Kurt Schlichting explores Grand Central as both an innovative engineering project and a force in shaping the life of the city. His book will give New Yorkers-and everyone else-a new appreciation of just how visionary a project Grand Central was and what a difficult, complex, and sometimes hair-raising job it was to build. -- Herbert H. Harwood, Jr., author of Royal Blue Line and Impossible Challenge: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Maryland
Kurt C. Schlichting is the E. Gerald Corrigan '63 Chair in Humanities and Social Sciences at Fairfield University and a professor of sociology. He is author of Grand Central's Engineer: William J. Wilgus and the Planning of Modern Manhattan, also published by Johns Hopkins.
Grand Central Terminal is celebrated for its Beaux-Arts style, but Kurt C. Schlichting looks behind the facade to see the hidden engineering marvels... [His] book will deepen anyone's appreciation for New York's most magnificent interior space. -- Eric P. Nash New York Times Book Review Schlichting writes with deep understanding of Grand Central's engineering feats and artistic qualities. -- Tom Lewis Wilson Quarterly His study peels away our contemporary expectations and experiences and reveals the layers of history and acts of men that served as the foundation for this great structure. -- Amy G. Richter H-Urban, H-Net Reviews Drawing heavily from the papers of William J. Wilgus (chief engineer of the New York Central Railroad and the genius behind plans for the smoke-free electrified rail system) and other primary-source material, the author combines railroading, structural engineering, architecture, and business history in a very readable text... [An] in-depth treatment of design and architecture. Library Journal The most detailed account yet of one of the most important events in the history of 20th-century architecture, railroad development, and city building. Choice Ably tells the story of the New York rail system's most active and visible symbol: the architectural and engineering masterpiece, with its grand public concourse, in the heart of Midtown. -- William Mitchell New Scientist Kurt Schlichting's book is a fitting record of the history of New York City's central landmark, if not a national treasure. -- Paul Malo New York History Kurt Schlichting's history of New York's Grand Central Terminal gathers many actors and events into a clearly written and amply illustrated narrative of American commercial initiative... In his detailed accounts of the fiscal, stylistic, and engineering decisions that went into the creation of especially the second Grand Central Terminal, Schlichting clearly shows both how energetic and talented all of the people involved were and how dramatically they altered this central portion of New York City. -- Amy Slaton Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians [A] compelling story. -- Carol Poh Miller Technology and Culture A great read... represents railroad history at its best. -- David J. Mrozek The Michigan Railfan This biography was a pleasure to read and perhaps even more important was a well balanced presentation. -- David Mrozek The Michigan Railfan
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