Hell's Kitchen: The Roaring Days of New York's Wild West Side

by Richard O'Connor

Essential history of New York's colorful neighborhood. Essential for residents and historians.

Genres: New York, History, American History

249 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Historical books published in the mid-1900s

Reviews

[Brian Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where it's good it's good, where it's not good it's dry and lifeless. I found this book in a search after visiting Hell's Kitchen and wanting to learn more about its history. My favorite thing about it is the nuance that author Richard O'Connor employs in his storytelling. Even though he never calls attention to it, I got the feeling that his research was almost completely comprised of interviews and exhaustive study of available public records -- and that's cool. I'm grateful for writers like O'Connor that take measures to preserve fragments of history for the sake of record. Because of this, the more recent history in this chronological account is the most colorful, the earlier history in the first several chapters of this book are much less coherent. If you're looking for an engaging read, go into this reading experience with a warning. If you're looking for a pure history of Hell's Kitchen, it's characters and lamentable-yet-interesting backstory, for your own research or personal projects -- read away.

[Paulie P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lived in Hell's Kitchen for 30 years I found this book fascinating. So many references to the area that I walk daily. I learned a great deal about so much more than the streets I learned a great deal about the people.

The Kitchen was a rough place and so were those that lived there. After completing the book I walked many of the streets and visualized those days 100 hundred years ago.

It meant more to me than the average reader but all will be engrossed in the book.

[Natalie Massimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible in depth analysis of Hell’s Kitchen and broader nyc culture. lowkey lost me when u were talking about the regiments in WW1&2 from Hell’s Kitchen and where they were stationed like no one asked fr. I loved the chapter about Father Parkhurst tho , the spiritual demands of a priest living a. Community of crime were v interesting.

[John Marricco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book about a crazy time and place. It's all quite fascinating, especially when you compare it with today.

[Terrence Crimmins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A no holds barred narration of the depravity of one of New York City's most fascinating slums.