The Great Bridge

A monumental tale of American ambition, told by Pulitzer Prize–winning author and master historian David McCullough. This gripping saga of the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the country’s boldest engineering achievements, reveals not only the politics and personalities behind "America’s Eiffel Tower," but charts New York’s ascent as a thriving metropolis. Around 1870, during the Age of Optimism—a time when Americans believed anything was possible—the ambitious idea of constructing an unprecedented bridge across the East River to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn took root. This monumental project demanded a vision and determination on par with the efforts that built the great cathedrals of history. Spearheaded by the Roebling family, the project faced staggering odds throughout its fourteen years of construction. Bodies were crushed, lives were lost, political empires fell, and waves of public emotion constantly threatened its progress. The Roeblings, too, were not immune to personal tragedies. Yet, Emily Roebling rose above these challenges to become the pivotal force behind the Brooklyn Bridge’s completion, shattering all societal expectations of her era. This is not just the story of an engineering miracle; it is a sweeping narrative of the social climate of the time and the heroes and rascals who either built or exploited this groundbreaking enterprise.

David McCullough (1933–2022) twice received the Pulitzer Prize, for Truman and John Adams, and twice received the National Book Award, for The Path Between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback. His other acclaimed books include The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, Brave Companions, 1776, The Greater Journey, The American Spirit, The Wright Brothers, and The Pioneers. He was the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Visit DavidMcCullough.com.

Contents Introduction Author's Note PART ONE 1. The Plan 2. Man of Iron 3. The Genuine Language of America 4. Father and Son 5. Brooklyn 6. The Proper Person to See 7. The Chief Engineer PART TWO 8. All According to Plan 9. Down in the Caisson 10. Fire 11. The Past Catches Up 12. How Natural, Right, and Proper 13. The Mysterious Disorder 14. The Heroic Mode PART THREE 15. At the Halfway Mark 16. Spirits of '76 17. A Perfect Pandemonium 18. Number 8, Birmingham Gauge 19. The Gigantic Spinning Machine 20. Wire Fraud 21. Emily 22. The Man in the Window 23. And Yet the Bridge Is Beautiful 24. The People's Day Epilogue Appendix Notes Picture Credits Bibliography Index