Strangely enough, the outpouring of good will that followed the terrorist attacks on New York City produced a kind of elation in many people. It is this giddy sense of starting over, thinks Hans van den Broek, that prompted his wife to leave him. Drifting in the sudden expanse and uncertainty of his life, Hans is drawn to enigmatic Trinidadian Chuck Ramkissoon and the curious appeal of the city's immigrant cricket leagues.

"The story of New Netherland is told in a highly readable fashion suitable for anyone unfamiliar with this important chapter in U.S. colonial history. From the exploration of Henry Hudson in 1609 to the final transfer of the Dutch colony to the English in 1674,this book introduces key aspects of New Netherland: the multicultural makeup of the population, the privatization of colonization, the ability to survive with meager means against overwhelming odds, and the transfer of distinctive Dutch traits, such as toleration, free trade, and social mobility, all of which persisted long after New Netherland became New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. New Netherland in a Nutshell will satisfy the questions: who were the Dutch, why did they come here, and what did they do once they got here?"--Publisher's description.