The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge Kindle Edition

The Great Bridger by David McCulloughFor me this is a rare read. It is over 800 pages. Fortunately, the last 20% are appendices which I did not studiously read nor look over.This story begins with the early years of suspension bridges in the United States as they prepared the way for the building of the Great Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge. This is about building of the bridge, the people who built the bridge and convincing the communities to undertake this endeavor.At the time of its completion in 1883 the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world, (1595ft). Its center span rose 127 feet above mean high tide to facilitate the passing of sailing ships. In 1883 its towers were the tallest structures in New York. (272 feet above the water.McCoullough gives us backgrounds on all the key participants in building the bridge and in opposing the bridge. Yes, the building of the bridge was a roaring controversy from its conception throughout its construction. (There was a significant cost overrun.)McCoullough also gives us insight into the politics of New York City, Albany and even the U. S. These were the years of the Tammany Hall Gang, and nothing got done in New York without some level of participation of the leadership at Tammany Hall. In spite of accusations of corruption surrounding the financing of the bridge a post construction review of the bridge reported that there were no misspent funds.The third focus of the book is on the actual construction of the bridge. To give you some idea of the challenges faced by the engineers and the workers. The first step in the construction is creating firm foundations 70 feet below the water. This was done by creating a large watertight box (called a caisson) the size of several basketball courts that is then forced down by clearing away boulders and other debris until it sits on ground firm enough to support the bridge. As the box descends below 30 feet the interior air pressure increases to dangerous levels causing what was called ‘caisson disease’, or as we now know it, the bends. This had debilitating effects on the work men and on Washington Roebling the Supervising Engineer, who joined the laborers working in the caisson.The Brooklyn Bridge was a marvel upon completion and remains an iconic marvel to the day. McCoullough book breathe life into the stones and steel of this iconic structure. This book has moved walking to the center of the bridge is to the top of my bucket list.

Like most things in life, I found David a little to late. I'd read John Adams, found it phenomenal, but unfortunately we have so many other talented biographers with Larkin, Issacson, and Chernow that I put his books on a back burner. It was only at his passing that I bought all of his books, including The Great Bridge. This book is a masterpiece. A fast read, I found myself as engaged by it as a riveting novel. The fact that this book is based on real life, that these great men fought adversity and won, that I can right now walk along that hallowed briged, feel history beneath me...this book fills one with a sense of sadness. A bridge is immortal, but we are not. However, David has imortalized himself as one of histories great biographers. Like this great bridge, I hope his legacy will stand for centuries to come. RIP Sir, and thank you.

This book provides extraordinary detail about the development, construction and significance of the Brooklyn Bridge, and extensive biographical information and as well as its political, cultural and socioeconomic context. If you want the "whole story" of the bridge, this is your ideal source.

I didn’t see how many pages it was but that’s my fault. Other than that it’s all good.

The book is in great condition. Accurately described. Thank you!

Incredible read… then I traveled to Brooklyn and walked the bridge!!! Crazy experience

This history explains the building of the Brooklyn Bridge in captivating detail that preceeded the coming out party of the Americana that was displayed by the 1893 Columbian Exposition. It is another McCullough marvel that helps one appreciate the post Civil War period.

Nicely narrated, Drags a bit in some places. Eg Caisson disease.Would be nice if some pictures were interspersed with the text on Kindle.

Like so many things in life I came across David McCullough's work by good fortune, in that, I was doing post-graduate history research and saw his book entitled 'The Wright Brothers.' Since then my library now includes five of his other excellent fact-based books, all of which have been highly interesting, well researched and equally well-written. 'The Great Bridge' is no exception. It tells the story of why and how this incredible piece of engineering came into being, largely due to the intellect and dedication of the Roebling family, although they were not alone, since many others such as Brooklyn politicians, entrepreneurs, high-end engineers and a couple of swindlers and last but certainly not least, an extraordinary lady by the name of Emily, who together came to design and then supervise the construction of what at the time was the world's longest suspension bridge, connecting Brooklyn with Manhattan, New York. With the exception of the eye bars which had to be forged, all other major parts of the bridge were of a relatively new material , which engineers referred to as steel. Whilst the Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River is nowadays dwarfed by other taller and perhaps more eye-catching structures on Manhattan Island, the Brooklyn Bridge continues to attract locals and visitors from around the world who not only enjoy the incredible views but in most cases are aware that this is still something very special, some have said the Eighth Wonder of the World but that might just be a slight exaggeration nowadays. Nevertheless, the story David McCullough tells keeps one's attention drawn to the narrative and in this writers case resulted in quite a bit of additional research. By the way, some of the wire used to make the main cables was sub-standard, although this fact was discovered at a point where it proved non-consequential. Enjoy the read. I'm just about to read one of his other books. Now let's see, will it be '1776,' 'The Johnstown Flood' or 'The Pioneers?' A good read is priceless.

Way back in the day, Brooklyn, and New York were different cities, either side of the East River. This book tells us about the Herculean effort to link the two cities, through the building of the "New York and Brooklyn Bridge".Most people who look at the bridge these days can be a bit "Meh, it's a bridge, so what?" I think. This book will debunk that view by explaining how the bridge was built. It took an enormous effort to build the bridge, killing, and maiming people along the way, and is this explained here in the pages of this book.It's well wroth a read.

The story of the Brooklyn bridge is one that i have been fascinated about for years. Building suspension bridges is no easy task, even today. That the Roeblings pioneered such a large bridge with the technology of the day is astounding. And a testament to all who worked on the bridge project. It really was the 8th wonder of the industrial world. This book weaves together all the inter-twining threads of the Great Bridges story.From John Roeblings journey to America, Washington Roeblings education and exploits in the civil war. Down in the caissons at the bottom of the east river, up on the bridge towers, spinning the cables. And Emily Roebling who finished the bridge after her Husband became sick with "Caissons disease". Nor is it just a story of engineering, or of human sacrifice. The political climate of the day provided just as many obstacles to the building of the great bridge as the east river, or crooked wire makers! Its a hell of a story, and nowhere will you found it better told than by McCullough!

I'm from Montreal, Québec. I go to New York 2 or 3 times a year, every year since 1984. I've crossed the Brooklyn Bridge 3 times on foot, one time by bus. I've watch the Great Bridge from Pier 17. Although I've always admire this beautiful piece of engineering, and especially the wonderous view it provides to the Manhattan skyline, I never dream it's story would be so rich.The Roeblings, John and especially Washington A, truly are American Heroes. After being hit very hard by the "caisson disorder", Chief Engineer Washington Roebling continued his work in dismal physical conditions. This is a succes story against all odds; against sickness, against corruption, against bureaucracy, againts conservatisims, most of all against political agendas.Even though I wasn't able to quite understand all the technical explanations on how the Great Bridge was built, it doesn't matter much to me. The human side of the story is quite interesting to say the least.It will definitly make me walk the Great Bridge one more time and this time, I'll fully appreciate it.

An extremely comprehensive history of the Brooklyn Bridge which brought a sharp focus to many other features of 19th Century America. It has a great reputation and deserves it.