Alone Together: A History of New York's Early Apartments

Be the first to write a review

Overview

Twentieth-century New York is now famous as the city of "cliff dwellers," but in the second half of the nineteenth century, middle-class apartments in Manhattan were a new—and somewhat suspect—architectural form. Alone Together presents a history of the "invention" of New York apartment houses.
Read More Show Less
... See more details below
Paperback
$31.49
BN.com price
(Save 9%)$34.95 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (7) from $23.50   
  • New (4) from $25.02   
  • Used (3) from $23.50   
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Twentieth-century New York is now famous as the city of "cliff dwellers," but in the second half of the nineteenth century, middle-class apartments in Manhattan were a new—and somewhat suspect—architectural form. Alone Together presents a history of the "invention" of New York apartment houses.
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
"After the Civil War, New York City developed an architectural form new to North America—a building designed as a multiple dwelling for middle-class families. The author chronicles the technological and the social evolution of the apartment house. . . . Along the way, she describes the domestic manners of New Yorkers of every class, from tenement-dwellers to the inhabitants of luxury apartments, and their rising expectations (indoor plumbing, for example) over a period of fifty years."—The New Yorker

"Cromley has done a superb job of describing the initial resistance to collective living, how architects attempted to solve the problem of domestic privacy, and how apartment living revolutionized traditional housekeeping activities. Particularly fascinating are her insights into how families adapted to the new form of housing and how the apartment building of today evolved."—Library Journal

"Cromley explores in words, vintage photographs and architects' drawings the evolution of the Big Apple's apartment blocks. . . . More than just architectural history, this is a glimpse at the evolution of American urban culture."—Publishers Weekly

Library Journal
This informative, scholarly study traces the evolution of the New York apartment building as a specific building type from its somewhat disreputable roots in Europe in the mid-19th century to its overwhelming acceptance by the general populace just 50 years later. Cromley has done a superb job of describing the initial resistance to collective living, how architects attempted to solve the problem of domestic privacy, and how apartment living revolutionized traditional housekeeping activities. Particularly fascinating are her insights into how families adapted to this new form of housing and how the apartment building of today evolved. This well-illustrated volume should be of interest to social and architectural historians alike.-- H. Ward Jandl, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780801486135
  • Publisher: Cornell University Press
  • Publication date: 1/28/1999
  • Pages: 272
  • Product dimensions: 7.00 (w) x 10.00 (h) x 0.20 (d)

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
    If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
    Why is this product inappropriate?
    Comments (optional)