"The most original and admirable volume in the WPA America Guide Series." - The New Yorker. This vintage anthology, published in the waning years of the Great Depression, presents 26 essays that capture the mood of the metropolis during the 1930s. Themes range from the city's history, architecture, and museums to its music halls and jazz clubs, theaters, cinemas, newspapers, and other cultural attractions. "A joy." - The Nation. AUTHOR: Created in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), The Federal Writers' Project was intended to provide employment for historians, writers, teachers, and librarians. The project focused on creating a series of guide books highlighting the scenic, historical, cultural, and economic resources of the United States.