Michael Nichols lives in Manhattan. This is his first book.

"Using his own observations as well as a wide array of documented sources, [Nichols] unravels the layers of history in and around Hell Gate, as well as sheds light on modern-day individuals who continue to give the landscape its character." — Hudson River Valley Review"Hell Gate is a great historical underpinning of colonial culture, as well as a sound landscape metaphor for America in all ages, and one that is vastly under-covered. This book is passionately written and deeply researched." — Mike Freeman, author of Drifting: Two Weeks on the Hudson"Nichols manages to tell a lively, lyrical story of his curiosity (about so many things), exploration, discovery, exertion—and occasional fears. Not just a 'boy's adventure' on forbidden waters. He roots it all in deep historical, literary, linguistic, and cartographical research. He gives us a vivid and detailed portrait of land and water surrounding the Hell Gate, which—as a non–New York City person—meant to me 'hell-hole/cesspool,' another, somewhat less notorious, Gowanus Canal. Nichols restores verdure to the banks and oysters and lobsters to the waters, for a while. Then we wind up rowing like hell across the Gate to beat the arrival of an oncoming three-barge tow, which has all the momentum and no brakes!" — Nicholas Westbrook, former Executive Director, Fort Ticonderoga

Michael Nichols lives in Manhattan. This is his first book.

"Using his own observations as well as a wide array of documented sources, [Nichols] unravels the layers of history in and around Hell Gate, as well as sheds light on modern-day individuals who continue to give the landscape its character." — Hudson River Valley Review"Hell Gate is a great historical underpinning of colonial culture, as well as a sound landscape metaphor for America in all ages, and one that is vastly under-covered. This book is passionately written and deeply researched." — Mike Freeman, author of Drifting: Two Weeks on the Hudson"Nichols manages to tell a lively, lyrical story of his curiosity (about so many things), exploration, discovery, exertion—and occasional fears. Not just a 'boy's adventure' on forbidden waters. He roots it all in deep historical, literary, linguistic, and cartographical research. He gives us a vivid and detailed portrait of land and water surrounding the Hell Gate, which—as a non–New York City person—meant to me 'hell-hole/cesspool,' another, somewhat less notorious, Gowanus Canal. Nichols restores verdure to the banks and oysters and lobsters to the waters, for a while. Then we wind up rowing like hell across the Gate to beat the arrival of an oncoming three-barge tow, which has all the momentum and no brakes!" — Nicholas Westbrook, former Executive Director, Fort Ticonderoga

Michael Nichols lives in Manhattan. This is his first book.

"Using his own observations as well as a wide array of documented sources, [Nichols] unravels the layers of history in and around Hell Gate, as well as sheds light on modern-day individuals who continue to give the landscape its character." — Hudson River Valley Review"Hell Gate is a great historical underpinning of colonial culture, as well as a sound landscape metaphor for America in all ages, and one that is vastly under-covered. This book is passionately written and deeply researched." — Mike Freeman, author of Drifting: Two Weeks on the Hudson"Nichols manages to tell a lively, lyrical story of his curiosity (about so many things), exploration, discovery, exertion—and occasional fears. Not just a 'boy's adventure' on forbidden waters. He roots it all in deep historical, literary, linguistic, and cartographical research. He gives us a vivid and detailed portrait of land and water surrounding the Hell Gate, which—as a non–New York City person—meant to me 'hell-hole/cesspool,' another, somewhat less notorious, Gowanus Canal. Nichols restores verdure to the banks and oysters and lobsters to the waters, for a while. Then we wind up rowing like hell across the Gate to beat the arrival of an oncoming three-barge tow, which has all the momentum and no brakes!" — Nicholas Westbrook, former Executive Director, Fort Ticonderoga