SKU: 13813695020

The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell

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Description

The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell"Part treatise, part miscellany, unfailingly entertaining." The New York Times "A small pearl of a book . . . a great tale of the growth of a modern city as seen through the rise and fall of the lowly oyster." Rocky Mountain News Award winning author Mark Kurlansky tells the remarkable story of New York by following the trajectory of one of its most fascinating inhabitants the oyster. For centuries New York was famous for this particular shellfish,

"Part treatise, part miscellany, unfailingly entertaining."
-The New York Times

"A small pearl of a book . . . a great tale of the growth of a modern city as seen through the rise and fall of the lowly oyster."
-Rocky Mountain News

Award-winning author Mark Kurlansky tells the remarkable story of New York by following the trajectory of one of its most fascinating inhabitants-the oyster.
For centuries New York was famous for this particular shellfish, which until the early 1900s played such a dominant a role in the city's life that the abundant bivalves were Gotham's most celebrated export, a staple food for all classes, and a natural filtration system for the city's congested waterways.

Filled with cultural, historical, and culinary insight-along with historic recipes, maps, drawings, and photos-this dynamic narrative sweeps readers from the seventeenth-century founding of New York to the death of its oyster beds and the rise of America's environmentalist movement, from the oyster cellars of the rough-and-tumble Five Points slums to Manhattan's Gilded Age dining chambers. With The Big Oyster, Mark Kurlansky serves up history at its most engrossing, entertaining, and delicious.

"Suffused with Kurlansky's] pleasure in exploring the city across ground that hasn't already been covered with other writers' footprints."
-Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Fascinating stuff . . . Kurlansky] has a keen eye for odd facts and natural detail."
-The Wall Street Journal

"Kurlansky packs his breezy book with terrific anecdotes."
-Entertainment Weekly

"Magnificent . . . a towering accomplishment."
-Associated Press


Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Published: 01/09/2007
ISBN: 9780345476395
Pages: 307
Weight: 0.54lbs
Size: 8.04h x 5.28w x 0.73d

Review Citations: New York Times 02/11/2007 pg. 28
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SKU: 13813695020

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hman
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Well built and priced
Size: 42inch Tall (NOT included wood planks), Color: Black
I saw these on line and decided I could probably just build one on my own. After pricing the parts out at the local hardware store, it was almost the same price, and opted for the less hassle pre-fab online kit. The material is well made, same as the hardware store, except the threads are shorter for easier assembly, and its painted for a cleaner look. I bought the 12"Dx42"L kit, and although I knew the measurements, it was a lot more massive than it looked in the picture. An 8' or 10"x 24"L kit would have fit my needs better. I only assembled 2 of the 3 sections, and will use the single section leftover for another shelf elsewhere, so it wasn't a problem. I'm happy with the end result and would recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2020
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Amazon Customer
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
So beautiful!
Size: 42inch Tall (NOT included wood planks), Color: Black, Size: 42inch Tall (NOT included wood planks), Color: Black
The poles are very sturdy. The order doesn’t come with wood but I only spent ~$15-20 on the wood and stain needed to shelve the poles. The only complaint I have is it was hard to install; mostly due to my lack of experience. It took most of the day to install and stain and cute the shelves. The poles weren’t completely flush to the wall and I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. I love the way these turned out and I know these shelves will be coming with me to the next home I have. 10/10 would recommend, even with the hard installation. SO worth it.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2019
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AM
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Fantastic for furniture making
Size: 16 x 18 Inch, Size: 16 x 18 Inch
Frankly, I didn't know what to expect... But these turned out to be exactly what I was looking and hoping for. These table legs were so easy to assemble. They come with adjustable feet so you can have a level table no matter your tabletop shape or floor situation. Assembly is done with a simple Allen key. Printed instructions are included with simple diagrams that are so easy to follow. Also, the seller provided all the hardware needed and more! They provided multiple black screws of different sizes that fit through the top holes of the legs, making it so easy to screw the leg base into the table top (use an electric drill with a Philips head for that). I had zero issues with any of the hardware provided. The base has a nice smooth black powder coat application on the metal. Shipping was so quick too. Seriously, if you are looking for a low cost, easy to assemble, good looking, and adjustable end table base, get this. I ended up making plant stands with these using some tree slices I had as you can see in my photo. 10/10 highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2026
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Paul Thomas
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Great value, sturdy product
Size: 16 x 18 Inch, Size: 16 x 18 Inch
Made a custom built 24" round resin pour table, and this worked great for the base, looks good too.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026
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Cynncat
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Easy to put together
Size: 16 x 18 Inch
Great legs and look great with the table, however, the legs connect to a peak and is not level. A friend made me some spacers on his 3d printer so I could use them.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2025

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