In this ambitious first volume of her exhaustive 1909 account of New York City's early history, Van Rensselaer begins with the earliest Dutch settlements and the founding of New Amsterdam. Using many primary sources to examine how trade, geography, and politics shaped the island's growth and fortunes, she takes us through the long governorship of Peter Stuyvesant and his eventual surrender of New Amsterdam to the English in 1664, which resulted in the city's new name. This is a fascinating and detailed account, perfect for students, historians, and anyone interested in pre-Revolutionary New York. Devoted to the study of art and architecture, American author MARIANA GRISWOLD VAN RENSSELAER (1851-1934) was born in New York City and was an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects. In a rare accomplishment for a woman at the time, she received a doctorate of literature from Columbia University in 1910. Her other books include English Cathedrals, Art Out of Doors, and One Man Who Was Content.