American Eden

David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic

By: Victoria Johnson

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

When Dr. David Hosack tilled the country's first botanical garden in the Manhattan soil more than 200 years ago, he didn't just dramatically alter the New York landscape; he left a monumental legacy of advocacy for public health and wide-ranging support for the sciences. A charismatic dreamer admired by the likes of Jefferson, Madison, and Humboldt, and intimate friends with both Hamilton and Burr, the Columbia professor devoted his life to inspiring Americans to pursue medicine and botany with a rigor to rival Europe's.

Though he was shoulder-to-shoulder with the founding fathers - and even present at the fatal duel that took Hamilton's life - Hosack and his story remain unknown. Now, in melodic prose, historian Victoria Johnson eloquently chronicles Hosack's tireless career to reveal the breadth of his impact. The result is a lush portrait of the man who gave voice to a new, deeply American understanding of the powers and perils of nature.

©2018 Victoria Johnson (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Very interesting history

Excellent book. Very interesting story particularly during the early stages of our nation. Well researched.

Fabulous story of early American Botany and NYC history

I enjoyed this story more than I expected, not knowing much about botany, and always choosing the Bronx zoo over the botanical garden when I was a youth growing up there. But Hosack's story amazed -- in Johnson's recounting how small the city was around 1800 (full of farms, woods, streams, and lakes); and Hosack's connections - Joseph Banks, Alexander Hamilton, and Alexander Von Humboldt all enter the story. And she follows with the history of his first ever US botanical gardens being run down by Columbia U and later being leased to Rockefeller to build Rockefeller Center (you know the skating rink with the cool statue and the Rockettes!) Made me want to tend my garden, learn about botany, and take a course from the author.

A slice of forgotten American History

Well written and well read, an interesting story of a man our history books ignore but who contributed much to a fledgling nation.

Bio of a great American

I'm so glad someone has unearthed the history of this very important person. A valuable aspect of the book is the way she has situated the life in the context of his time, with Joseph Banks, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and countless others.

NYC as a semi-rural city

Remarkable history of a remarkable physician who created a mini botanical garden in the middle of Manhattan, while practicing medicine. He was a leader of the science of botany. He remains unknown to most. Story is long; easy listening.