This is New York

With his characteristic wit and sensitivity, familiar from his works on Paris, London, and Rome, Miroslav Šašek captures the essence of the city of superlatives – New York. The Dutchman who acquired Manhattan Island for a mere 24 dollars' worth of goods in 1626 could scarcely have imagined he had just cut the best deal in the history of America. Everything about the metropolis that emerged on that island is big — from its buildings and cars to its traffic jams, Sunday newspapers, and the stories of its people. This was as true in 1960, when Šašek first published his book, as it is now in the early 21st century. This Is New York – a city whose charm and beauty lie in its contrasts.
Wondering how the book was accepted in New York? "Ivan Herben told me it was selling 600 copies a day in December. He was rather exasperated that he had to scour half of New York to secure three copies," the author noted with pride.

Perhaps the New York Times said it best: Šašek, much like E. B. White, recognized that the city is akin to a poem.