November 1891, the heart of Gilded Age Manhattan. Thousands filled the streets surrounding Madison Square, fingers pointing, mouths agape. After countless struggles, Stanford White-the country's most celebrated architect was about to dedicate America's tallest tower, the final cap set atop his Madison Square Garden, the country's grandest new palace of pleasure. Amid a flood of electric light and fireworks, the gilded figure topping the tower was suddenly revealed-an eighteen-foot nude sculpture of Diana, the Roman Virgin Goddess of the Hunt, created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the country's finest sculptor and White's dearest pal. The Grandest Madison Square Garden tells the remarkable story behind the construction of the second, 1890, Madison Square Garden and the controversial sculpture that crowned it. Set amid the magnificent achievements of nineteenth-century American art and architecture, the book delves into the fascinating private lives of the era's most prominent architect and sculptor and the nature of their intimate relationship. Hinman shows how both men pushed the boundaries of America's parochial aesthetic, ushering in an era of art that embraced European styles with American vitality. Situating the Garden's seminal place in the history of New York City, as well as the entire country, The Grandest Madison Square Garden brings to life a tale of architecture, art, and spectacle amid the elegant yet scandal-ridden culture of Gotham's decadent era.
"Hinman's skillful narrative hand, sense of structure, and the incredible amount of historical detail she weaves into every chapter make a wonderful book for anyone who enjoys a great read."
Esther Crain, author of The Gilded Age in New York, 1870–1910
"Hinman observes the complex lives of her subjects with assurance in this accessible study that will appeal to readers interested in late 19th-century American architecture
and sculpture, New York City, and LGBTQ history."
Library Journal
"Leaving no stone-or brick-unturned she weaves together every tantalizing aspect of the creation of Stanford White's magnificent Madison Square Garden. I found this in-depth work by Suzanne Hinman quite remarkable."
Miriam Berman, author of Madison Square: The Park and Its Celebrated Landmarks
