Knickerbocker's History of New York, Vol. 2 is a delightful and humorous take on the early history of New York City. Washington Irving's wit and satire shine through as he recounts the adventures and misadventures of the Dutch settlers in the New World.

Irving's storytelling is engaging, mixing historical facts with his own creative embellishments. The characters he introduces, such as the bumbling Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant, come to life on the pages and entertain readers with their larger-than-life personalities.

The book is not just a work of fiction, but also a clever commentary on human nature and the folly of power. Irving uses his characters and their escapades to poke fun at the absurdities of society and politics, making astute observations that still hold true today.

Overall, Knickerbocker's History of New York, Vol. 2 is a charming and entertaining read that will appeal to history buffs, lovers of satire, and anyone looking for a good laugh. Irving's clever writing makes this book a timeless classic that deserves a place on every bookshelf.

Book Description:
Washington Irving, an author, biographer, historian, and diplomat, completed his first major work, a satire of contemporary local history and politics entitled A History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker in 1809. Prior to its publication, Irving started a promotional hoax (not unlike some modern-day publicity stunts?) by placing fake missing persons advertisements in local newspapers asking for help in locating Diedrich Knickerbocker. As a continuation of the hoax, Irving also published a notice purported to be written by the proprietor of the hotel where Knickbocker was staying, in which he threatened to publish a manuscript “left behind” by Knickerbocker if the hotel bill was not paid. From “The Author’s Apology”: “The main object of my work, in fact, had a bearing wide from the sober aim of history, but one which, I trust, will meet with some indulgence from poetic minds. It was to embody the traditions of our city in an amusing form; to illustrate its local humors, customs and peculiarities; to clothe home scenes and places and familiar names with those imaginative and whimsical associations so seldom met with in our new country, but which live like charms and spells about the cities of the old world, binding the heart of the native inhabitant to his home.”