Play Audiobook Sample
American Passage: The History of Ellis Island Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.04) - 183 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Professor Vincent J. Cannato delivers a definitive history of America's landmark port of entry. From eyewitness accounts, Cannato weaves together a poignant testament to the hopes and fears of "huddled masses yearning to breathe free." "Never before has Ellis Island been written about with such scholarly care and historical wisdom. Highly recommended!"-Douglas Brinkley, historian
Download and start listening now!
"Great history of Ellis Island. A place that is constantly re-framed by different historical contexts and shifts in public opinion. I really liked how author digs through myth -- i.e. it was steamship companies, not island officials, that did most of the name-changing and rejecting."
— Brian (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“The story of America is one of immigration. By bringing us the inspiring and sometimes unsettling tales of Ellis Island, Vincent Cannato’s American Passage helps us understand who we are as a nation.”
— Walter Isaacson, New York Times bestselling author -
“Reading Vincent Cannato’s American Passage was an amazing journey into our nation’s immigrant past. Never before has Ellis Island been written about with such scholarly care and historical wisdom. Highly recommended!”
— Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author of The Great Deluge -
“To his great credit Cannato does not pretend to answer our tough questions about immigration, nor to find a ‘usable past’ in the history of Ellis Island. He just tells one heck of a story that oozes with relevance.”
— Walter A. McDougall, Pulitzer Prize–winning author -
“Historian Vincent Cannato appears to have overlooked nothing in telling the tale of the historic island, now a national monument… Cannato is not only a meticulous researcher and historian, he’s also a lively storyteller. A rare combination.”
— USA Today -
“Mr. Cannato’s writing is vivid and accessible, and his approach is admirably even-handed.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“Cannato does a masterful job of weaving together a slew of singular immigrant stories with the larger issues that surrounded newcomers. He gives us the politics, the health scares and epidemics, the crowding, the corruption and the public policy.”
— New York Post
American Passage Listener Reviews
-
" This would be a great book to read in a history or political science class. But as a pleasure read, it was dry, and also a bit repetitive on the politics of immigration. "
— Annieamw, 2/18/2014 -
" I was pretty excited to read this book, Ellis Island has alway interested me. However, it was a bit dry and hard to get in to. I really wanted to like it, but I ended up skipping most of the middle. As much as I hate to admit it. It was very, very factual and read quite a bit like a textbook. "
— Jen, 2/8/2014 -
" The parts involving the history of the building and the system, are very interesting. As is the history of the people coming through and the general attitude of the Americans towards the immigrants and immigration. However the parts discussing the politics of the building/administration are boring, long, drawn out and dominate most of the book. I struggled to try to read it... "
— Karina, 2/6/2014 -
" Balanced account of the workings of America's east coast emigration checkpoint--amongst the eugenics fads, Antisemitism, classism, misogyny and corruption, there were also dedicated reformers who treated New Americans with kindness and dignity. Includes many small anecdotes, including that Fiorello LaGuardia paid for a night-school law degree (and probably started his political network) while working as a translator in Croatian, Yiddish and Italian at Ellis Island. "
— Margaret, 1/18/2014 -
" I thought I was getting a coffee table book but this is a serious non-fiction book. The history is informative but I would have been happy with only half as much. "
— Ayelet, 1/13/2014 -
" I tried so hard to finish this book. It is packed full of information but is very, very dry. Fact after fact after fact but not necessarily put together in the most fascinating manner. Hopefully I'll revisit and finish one day. "
— Jen, 1/8/2014 -
" A superb account of both the history of Ellis Island and the larger issue of immigration...plus I'm thanked in the acknowledgments! "
— Kevin, 11/29/2013 -
" I learned quite a bit about the history of immigration and Ellis Island in particular, but I expected more in the way of personal stories. I don't think that is the fault of the book, I just didn't research it enough before I started reading. It does get repetitive. "
— Lynne, 10/26/2013 -
" This book is very much a historical and political look at immigration, not just Ellis Island. I very much enjoyed the stuff specifically about Ellis Island but I am not really very interested in the political side. "
— Beth, 9/15/2013 -
" Very interesting. It makes you want to read more about the history. "
— Kelli, 4/21/2013 -
" I was very naive about Ellis Island's real purpose until I read this book. It's not an easy read but well worth it. "
— Kristin, 1/1/2013 -
" Immigration has been an issue in America for over 100 years. I learned things from this book that I had never known about Ellis Island. I was pleased that I got to visit the Statue of Liberty with the choir from Canyon. "
— Louise, 9/17/2012 -
" Well written history which explains US imigration policy of the centuries. "
— Richard, 2/26/2012 -
" Excellent book on the history of Ellis Island. No sad immigrant stories, but a look at how Ellis Island evolved - documents the changing opinions of the American People, Presidents, and Lawmakers. "
— Itsbecka, 11/25/2011 -
" Well-researched, but clearly written for academics and historians or anyone who wants more detail about Ellis than is necessary. If you want a general history, look elsewhere, but if you want a time and detail intensive experience, this is the book for you. "
— Gina, 11/5/2011 -
" Probably a good book but I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read it. Maybe I'll try again later! "
— Kathy, 9/13/2010 -
" Read like a text book. Needed more personal stories. "
— Steve, 12/30/2009
About Jonathan Hogan
Jonathan Hogan is a stage, television, and film actor. He has appeared in several episodes of Law & Order, as well as One Life to Live, As the World Turns, and Ryan’s Hope. In 1985 his performance in the play As Is earned him a Tony Award nomination.