Philadelphia: A Brief History

By Roger D. Simon

Book Overview

Philadelphia offers a historical overview, from William Penn's founding of the Quaker City to its deindustrialization and gentrification in the early twenty-first century. As Roger Simon demonstrates, the history of Philadelphia is the story of the enduring efforts to sustain economic prosperity while fulfilling community needs, and the continued tension between these priorities. Book jacket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932304266
• ISBN13: 9781932304268
• Release Date: July 2017
• Publisher: Pennsylvania Historical Association
• Length: 156 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great overview of an interesting city

Roger Simon provides a short but detailed and thorough account of Philadelphia's history. The book focuses not only on the urban development but the social changes that afflicted the city. From its early days as a Quaker colony under William Penn to the modern day it has been poorly run from the top. Simon's analysis of the political choices and the concerned citizens like Ben Franklin that have risen when times called for provide for interesting reading. For those who have a little knowledge of the city they will get more out of the book but even those who have not been can still find it interesting. The discussions on the Schuylkill Expressway along with the redevelopment or gentrification of Philadelphia were some of the highlights of the book for me. The analysis is well done and it is recommended for those who want a quick overview of Philadelphia's history that still is comprehensive and meaningful.