Reviews
"A substantial work of scholarship that provides a highly useful history of the development and consequences of urban water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure in the United States. Extensively referenced, heavily illustrated, and well written, it should be a standard on the subject for many years." -Technology and Culture, "Over the next several years, environmental and civil engineers with an interest in the history of their professions as well as policymakers seeking context will join environmental and urban historians in praising The Sanitary City, a tour de force." -- Patricia Evridge Hill, History, "Melosi has written an intellectual and technologically oriented account of the efforts of urban leaders to foster control of the built environment and enhance the health of citizens. Scholars in urban and environmental history will begin their future work with Melosi's book, and they will consult it regularly. Here is a book that practitioners will read, assign, and debate." -Journal of Urban History, "Nicely illustrated and well documented, The Sanitary City, just like the systems it describes, will be central to our understanding of the urban experience." -- Stephen H. Cutcliffe, Science, Technology and Society, "[The Sanitary City] is well written, in an engaging style that is both informative and leaves the reader with opportunities to critique historiographic debates and form his/her own conclusions... Given the comprehensive treatment Melosi provides, his monograph will likely be the standard reference for some years to come." -- Russell S. Kirby, Historical Geography, "Melosi offers a fascinating historical tour of the odiferous underground architecture of American cities from the eighteenth century to the present." -- Mark Tebeau, Journal of Interdisciplinary History, "A monumental work, the outcome of well over a decade of research by an important scholar. A milestone in public works history. It is likely to become the first work to which future scholars interested in the sanitary technologies in America will turn." "--ISIS", "A monumental work, the outcome of well over a decade of research by an important scholar. A milestone in public works history. It is likely to become the first work to which future scholars interested in the sanitary technologies in America will turn." --ISIS, "ÝThe Sanitary City¨ is well written, in an engaging style that is both informative and leaves the reader with opportunities to critique historiographic debates and form his/her own conclusions... Given the comprehensive treatment Melosi provides, his monograph will likely be the standard reference for some years to come." -- Russell S. Kirby, Historical Geography, "A substantial work of scholarship that provides a highly useful history of the development and consequences of urban water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure in the United States. Extensively referenced, heavily illustrated, and well written, it should be a standard on the subject for many years." --Technology and Culture, "Melosi has written an intellectual and technologically oriented account of the efforts of urban leaders to foster control of the built environment and enhance the health of citizens. Scholars in urban and environmental history will begin their future work with Melosi's book, and they will consult it regularly. Here is a book that practitioners will read, assign, and debate." --Journal of Urban History, "Well-written and thoroughly documented, The Sanitary City tells a national story... an important read for anyone concerned with understanding American cities and how they got the way they are." -- Steven J. Hoffman, Journal of Social History, "Melosi's book is a great accomplishment, a rich source of factual and interpretive material, and a tribute to a life of productive scholarship." -- James B. McSwain, EH.Net, "A substantial work of scholarship that provides a highly useful history of the development and consequences of urban water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure in the United States. Extensively referenced, heavily illustrated, and well written, it should be a standard on the subject for many years." "--Technology and Culture", "A monumental work, the outcome of well over a decade of research by an important scholar. A milestone in public works history. It is likely to become the first work to which future scholars interested in the sanitary technologies in America will turn." -ISIS, "A comprehensive introduction to a very important topic." -- Richard Kastl, Vernacular Architecture Newsletter, " "The Sanitary City" is a must-have for historians doing research on any aspect of the history of the development of water, sewerage, waste management, pollution control and other aspects of public health and sanitation in the American city. Melosi's prodigious research and extensive bibliography, his lucid descriptions and many illustrations of colonial era and more modern sanitation technologies, and his discussion of the truly myriad accomplishments of the public health and sanitation professions make this book an essential research tool."--Christine Meisner Rosen, "Urban History", "Melosi has written an intellectual and technologically oriented account of the efforts of urban leaders to foster control of the built environment and enhance the health of citizens. Scholars in urban and environmental history will begin their future work with Melosi's book, and they will consult it regularly. Here is a book that practitioners will read, assign, and debate." "--Journal of Urban History", "Martin Melosi's The Sanitary City is a substantial work of scholarship that provides a highly useful history of the development and consequences of urban water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure in the United States. Extensively referenced, heavily illustrated, and well written, it should be a standard on the subject for many years." -- Darwin H. Stapleton, Technology and Culture, "The Sanitary City is a must-have for historians doing research on any aspect of the history of the development of water, sewerage, waste management, pollution control and other aspects of public health and sanitation in the American city. Melosi's prodigious research and extensive bibliography, his lucid descriptions and many illustrations of colonial era and more modern sanitation technologies, and his discussion of the truly myriad accomplishments of the public health and sanitation professions make this book an essential research tool." -- Christine Meisner Rosen, Urban History
