The Grandest Madison Square Garden

Leaving no stone—or brick—unturned she weaves together every tantalizing aspect of the creation of Stanford White’s magnificent Madison Square Garden. I found this in-depth work by Suzanne Hinman quite remarkable. Hinman’s skillful narrative hand, sense of structure, and the incredible amount of historical detail she weaves into every chapter make a wonderful book for anyone who enjoys a great read. What a splendid book! This scholarly history of the second Madison Square Garden (1890-1925) provides an important addition to the story of New York City Gilded Age architecture, entertainment, and popular culture. This building, it must be noted, lasted only a few years. In a rapidly changing city, this Palace of Pleasure was torn down to make way for a great Cathedral of Insurance. Thus, this book is especially rich in expanding our knowledge of the work of the architect Stanford White and the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The author has read widely and presents her findings in highly readable prose. This is a book for scholars and lay readers alike. A detailed and wide-ranging account of the Gilded Age from its picaresque characters, social choreography, and cultural preferences to its volatile economy, favorite restaurants, and even construction technology, with Stanford White and his beloved Madison Square Garden at the center of it all. Hinman observes the complex lives of her subjects with assurance in this accessible study that will appeal to readers interested in late 19th-century American architecture and sculpture, New York City, and LGBTQ history. Hinman uses the construction of the second Madison Square Garden as an armature upon which to hang a depiction of the Gilded Age. The Grandest Madison Square Garden will appeal to a wide audience. It tells an inherently fascinating story and does so with evident enthusiasm. Ought to be in collections devoted to New York City, the Gilded Age, architecture, art, and entertainment history. . . . Highly Recommended.