Book Review: Coney Island: Lost and Found
Coney Island: Lost and Found by Charles Denson, published by Ten Speed Press, 2004. Paperback, 304 pages. (Amazon)
Growing up in Coney Island in the 1950s and 1960s, Charles Denson is a witness to the changes the community on the southern tip of Brooklyn has undergone. Part one of his book gives a history of the place, from the first European settlers - when Coney was still and Island - through to its heyday in the early to mid 1900's. Part two is more personal, the author recounting his youth on Coney Island: living in its first high-rise housing project, scavenging the derelict amusement parks, and spending valuable time with his secretive and mysterious father, an important figure for Denson. Part three follows the recent upsurge in Coney Island since its mid 20th-century decline, when it became a testing ground for Robert Moses and high-rise housing. The annual Mermaid Parade and the recent opening of a stadium for the Brooklyn Cyclones illustrate the renewed interest in "America's Playground". While it isn't clear what the future holds for Coney Island, its past indicates that it will survive, no matter what hardships it encounters.
Growing up in Coney Island in the 1950s and 1960s, Charles Denson is a witness to the changes the community on the southern tip of Brooklyn has undergone. Part one of his book gives a history of the place, from the first European settlers - when Coney was still and Island - through to its heyday in the early to mid 1900's. Part two is more personal, the author recounting his youth on Coney Island: living in its first high-rise housing project, scavenging the derelict amusement parks, and spending valuable time with his secretive and mysterious father, an important figure for Denson. Part three follows the recent upsurge in Coney Island since its mid 20th-century decline, when it became a testing ground for Robert Moses and high-rise housing. The annual Mermaid Parade and the recent opening of a stadium for the Brooklyn Cyclones illustrate the renewed interest in "America's Playground". While it isn't clear what the future holds for Coney Island, its past indicates that it will survive, no matter what hardships it encounters.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated for spam.