This imaginative collection of over 500 quotations describes, for better or worse, New York City from the 16th century to the present. Supplied by writers, poets, statesmen, artists, composers, educators, politicians, actors, sportsmen, musicians, scientists, travelers, and others from various ethnic backgrounds, the quotations were culled from primary sources and from a wide range of secondary works including: biographies and autobiographies, history, fiction, travel, poetry, song and art books, newspapers, journals, and magazines. All entries are arranged alphabetically by author and include brief biographical information. With reference notes and indexes.