This is a great account of the rise and fall and rise of the Hudson elite. The storytelling kept me engaged and interested. A great read especially for NY natives.

I have lived in the area and I found it fascinating to learn more about the history of some of the places I'd seen. Well done, well researched, a very enjoyable and informative read. I would also be very interested in any other work from the author, as well.

Release Date: September 27, 2022

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To outsiders or East Siders, Riverside Park and Riverside Drive may not have the star status of Fifth Avenue or Central Park West. But at the city’s westernmost edge, there is a quiet and beauty like nowhere else in all of New York. There are miles of mansions and monuments, acres of flora, and a breadth of wildlife ranging from Peregrine falcons to goats. It’s where the Gershwins and Babe Ruth once lived, William Randolph Hearst ensconced his paramour, and Amy Schumer owns a penthouse. Told in the uniquely personal voice of a longtime resident, Heaven on the Hudson is the only New York City book that features the history, architecture, and personalities of this often overlooked neighborhood, from the eighteenth century through the present day.

I love Marion Davies so it was fun to read about how William Randolph Hurst had a house for his family, one for Marion and one for Marion’s father. It was very interesting to read about riverside drive and learn about who built the mansion, a bit of backstory as to the people building and what became of each of the mansions. Overall I’d recommend this book if you like history and even more so if you like NYC history. I’d love to see one on the upper east side too!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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This book is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in the history of Riverside Park and Riverside Park. The author's writing is engaging and accessible. She includes fascinating stories about the people and buildings, the magnates and mansions, how the area developed and evolved over the course of time. It's a great book for anyone interested in NYC's social and architectural history.

I've heard about Riverside Park and Riverside Drive many times in the past, but don't believe I've ever visited as of the time of my review. And this is coming from someone who's been to NYC hundreds of times!

After reading this book, I llearned a lot of interesting facts and tidbits on the historic homes, buildings, landmarks, sights, and events in this Upper West Side neighborhood of NYC. Plus, the history of notable residents who lived in this area. I thought the pictures were nice to have to see some of the buildings, but I think a few more pictures would be great. I recommend this book for those looking for a guide that specifically focuses on NYC's Riverside Park and Riverside Drive.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A relatively quick and concise reader for anyone interested in the history of Riverside Park. The book contains great historical photos of some of the mansions that used to be along the river and great tidbits about some of the famous folks who used to call the area home.

Thank you NetGalley and Fordham University Press, Empire State Editions for accepting my request to read and review Heaven on the Hudson -- Mansions, Monuments, and Marvels of Riverside Park.

Author: Stephanie Azzarone
Published: 09/27/22
Genre: Arts & Photography | History | Nonfiction (Adult)

Imagine my surprise as I opened Heaven on the Hudson and saw very few pictures in this well-documented book. I wanted and expected a glorified coffee table book. What I actually received was an architectural dictionary.

I was disappointed, there was too much history with mundane facts. If you enjoy architectural styles, specifically Riverside, then this is for you. There was a lot of work and attention to detail put into this story.

I wanted to read this book because hit on several of my favorite things, history, old architecture, and life in New York City. I’ve long been fascinated by the people living their lives in NYC in the old prewar buildings with high ceilings and beautiful trim. Of course, not all are lucky enough to live in these historic buildings, but every now and then a regular person gets lucky enough to land an apartment with glorious architectural details.

Ms. Azzarone’s book details the early days of the Upper West Side along the Hudson and the development of Riverside Park. I started Ms. Azzarone’s book with great anticipation and having previously read some New York City history was not surprised by some of the beginning chapter information. From squatters living in the dirt, to mansion after mansion, the growth was phenomenal once the area began to be developed. I was disappointed not to see more photographs showing the beautiful mansions that were built along the Hudson by the absurdly rich of the time. Despite their exorbitant costs and lengthy build times, for the most part, they had a short time of existence before being replaced by multi-family buildings.

The reading could be a bit dry at times, but due to the author’s elaborate research, the entertaining tidbits lightened the mood and kept the story flowing. It was easy to see that this was a love story told by the author for the area she so deeply adores. If I ever visit, New York City again, this area will be on my list of must-sees.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Fordham University Press, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Excellent read. Author Stephanie Azzarone provides an in-depth yet fast-paced history of Riverside Park and Drive, an area of NYC that this reader has rarely seen books on. A good mix of history, photos from the past and more recent times, and a little bit of personal anecdotes from the author. It is definitely worth reading, especially for those who think Central Park is THE park of NYC. This book opens the door to learn something new about NYC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Fordham University Press for access to this ARC, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

The book is full of interest facts, history about Riverside Park, Riverside drive. However,, my ARC copy has a couple of quirks…”fi” does not appear…so “firer” is “re” “deficiency” is “de ciency”…interestingly after this happening about 10 times my brain just started inserting the letters and I was okay with it. The other problem was no numbers appeared…so 110th st became “th st”. Etc…and i have absolutely no idea what years, decades any thing happened. That being said anyone interested in NY parks, architecture, history will love this books, just skim first to make sure it has numbers/dates!

This history of the homes of Riverside Drive is one of such love. The author has lived in the neighborhood for over 30 years and her love for the area comes through on every page of the book. The book takes readers on a journey of the history of the park and the houses along Manhattan's western shoreline. Many of the pages have photos showing what used to be there and other pages show what's there now. May of the people referenced I had heard of but many of the people and stories were completely new to me. The book feels very well researched and I am looking forward to have this book as a reference for my next trip to New York.

The book covers a generally ignored portion of New York City and its history. I had high hopes for it, but the book seems unfinished with many errors that make it difficult to read and understand. I hope I just have a bad copy of it as this is a part of New York's story that should be told. But, from what I read, the author needed more time for research and editing to develop the book.

Amazing book I'm from New York originally and I didn't even know the history Of riverside Park. It was interesting how this book talked about You're amazing buildings and how they were related to riverside park. I can't believe there are a lot on the national registry and New York City registry To preserve this I think that's great because you can see how things changed in New York. And how Robert Morse try Do the right thing by changing things but I don't think he should have knocked down New York yacht club. I find it I'll Grant's tomb was there and how the soldier Morel was there as well. I liked how the firefighter memorial was there to honor fire people who have died in fighting fires in the city. There's a lot of history to the upper West side time to riverside park. They mentioned an incident Which Jack carrack was involved You put this in one of his books. It While a dead person In a carpet Then threw him in the Hudson river. I liked the pictures in the book as well when you were reading about the places because it gave it a very visual effect.

Stephanie Azzarone has lived in Riverside Park for more than thirty years. She wrote this book to explain what she loves about her neighborhood. The first half of this book gives a general history of the neighborhood and the colorful characters who lived there in bygone days; the second half is a walking tour, with block-by-block descriptions of buildings, their architecture, and some of the famous people who've lived in them. There's also a glossary of architectural terms and, this book being printed by a university press, many pages of references, and a long index. The book is lavishly illustrated with pictures of buildings, celebrities, and the riverfront park itself.

For most people I know, the result might be summarized as "how part of New York City tried to be as nice as my town." In fact Azzarone mentions the inevitable effect of crowding on the neighborhood: street crime occurs, and the Hudson River became badly polluted. But people have worked to address these issues. Photos of the river today show clear water and people enjoying walking beside it.

People who live in, love, or have loved New York City are interested in this book. It's a local thing but bookstores and libraries far from New York may be surprised at the interest people show in a book about the poshest part of Manhattan. Those people will not be disappointed. This book is a feast for the eye and a delight for trivia buffs.

The arduous research from the NYPL and the Museum of the City of New York alone is so totally daunting! The photographs alone make this book a bargain at any price. For those of us who geek history, and especially that of a given area of The City, this book is a real treasure of priceless information of the history and development of the area along the Hudson River, especially Riverside Park.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book courtesy of Fordham University Press/Empire State Editions and Adobe Digital Editions via NetGalley. Thank you!!

Heaven on the Hudson
By Stephanie Azzarone

This book is an account of life along the Hudson River (along Riverside Drive and Riverside Park). From the mercantile magnates beginning with Oliver De Lancey, who fought on the Tory side during the Revolutionary War, and Charles Apthorp, whose property ultimately came into the hands of William Ponsonby Furniss, a shipping magnate. The area blossomed with stately mansions, where giants of mercantilism and industry, as well as well-known figures such as Edgar Allen Poe passed some time.

The book tracks the ups and downs of the area, as descendants broke up or sold off the properties and the properties fell into disrepair and abandonment. It goes on to track the property through the civil war and after, when New Yorkers rehabilitated the area in different ways over the years since then, right up to the present..

The book is interesting, especially for anyone familiar at all with the area. The author obviously loves her little patch of "Heaven on the Hudson".

Have you ever read a love letter to a city? Well, you are in luck if not because Stephanie Azzarone has written one to Riverside Park and Riverside Drive in New York City. "Heaven on the Hudson" looks at the often ignored portion of the city which doesn't have the instantly recognizable aspects of Central Park or downtown Manhattan.

A book like this can be very niche if not handled delicately. Azzarone is a longtime resident and her prose bears that out. She talks lovingly about various buildings and events which matured Riverside since the 18th century. She chooses her stories wisely to keep things interesting and moving along. This book is the equivalent of the friend at a party who loves a story so much that you get sucked in as well. I highly recommend getting the print version as the pictures are a huge part of the story.

Plus, there are a few scandalous episodes as well. That never hurts.

(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Fordham University Press.)

A historical collection of stories and photographs about the grand houses and their wealthy and famous occupants of the RIverside of the Hudson. This beautiful book contains modern photos of what some of these houses look like now, in the current modern city.

A deep dive into the history of the development of Riverside Park and its surrounding architecture. Many of the more luxurious mansions that rimmed the Hudson at this point are gone, having celebrated a relatively short lifetime, making way for beautifully kept multi dwellings. As with any neighborhood, it has suffered some ups and downs, but today remains a desirable neighborhood given the names dropped by the authors.

One note -- this galley provided was rough. The letters "fi" and "fl" were omitted, as were any numerical references which enhance a reading experience, such as street numbers and monetary amounts.

This was great. Loved the writing and really enjoyed the ideas and concepts in this book. I had lots of fun. Highly recommend!