Overview

A comprehensive history of Philadelphia from the region’s original Lenape inhabitants to the myriad of residents in the twenty-first century Philadelphia is famous for its colonial and revolutionary buildings and artifacts, which draw tourists from far and wide to gain a better understanding of the nation’s founding. Philadelphians, too, value these same buildings and artifacts for the stories they tell about their city. But Philadelphia existed long before the Liberty Bell was first rung, and its history extends well beyond the American Revolution.In Philadelphia: A Narrative History, Paul Kahan presents a comprehensive portrait of the city, from the region’s original Lenape inhabitants to the myriad of residents in the twenty-first century. As any history of Philadelphia should, this book chronicles the people and places that make the city unique: from Independence Hall to Eastern State Penitentiary, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross to Cecil B. Moore and Cherelle Parker. Kahan also shows us how Philadelphia has always been defined by ethnic, religious, and racial diversity—from the seventeenth century, when Dutch, Swedes, and Lenapes lived side by side along the Delaware; to the nineteenth century, when the city was home to a vibrant community of free Black and formerly enslaved people; to the twentieth century, when it attracted immigrants from around the world. This diversity, however, often resulted in conflict, especially over access to public spaces. Those two themes— diversity and conflict— have shaped Philadelphia’s development and remain visible in the city’s culture, society, and even its geography. Understanding Philadelphia’s past, Kahan says, is key to envisioning future possibilities for the City of Brotherly Love.

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9781512826296

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Reviews

"""Philadelphia has been waiting a long time to have its story told in a single compact volume. In this sharp and accessible history, Paul Kahan succeeds in identifying the grand forces that shaped the city’s character and demonstrates how they still animate its behavior today—for both good and ill. This is the perfect introduction to understanding how Philadelphia became the city it is today."" * Inga Saffron, Architecture Critic, Philadelphia Inquirer * ""In this remarkably honest, astute, and forthright telling of Philadelphia’s three-hundred-year history, Paul Kahan points to the interplay of promise and practice over time as the defining dynamic of Philadelphia, especially by tracking the constant push and pull between designs for public good and the interests of private gain, from William Penn’s planned city to today. From the grand view of the city one sees from the City Hall watch tower to the nitty-gritty ground-level perspectives of the many and diverse peoples making its neighborhoods, Kahan’s Philadelphia is, like America, organic and dynamic, never finished and always in the process of becoming, and very much worth knowing. A book of historical insight and contemporary currency, Philadelphia: A Narrative History will repay many readings."" * Randall M. Miller, Co-Editor, The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia *"

Author Information

Paul Kahan is an expert on U.S. political, economic, and diplomatic history. He earned his Ph.D. in U.S. history from Temple University and lives outside of Philadelphia with his family. This is his seventh book. You can learn more about Dr. Kahan and his work at www.paulkahan.com.

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