I rediscovered this book while reviewing materials for our summer fiction series, "The Gilded Age: Jersey Shore, 1892." This book was one of the required readings for my New Jersey History class at Monmouth University, where I earned my Master’s degree. I later used this book when I taught New Jersey History, and now I’m sharing it with you.

Daniel Wolff examines 130 years of Asbury Park's rich and turbulent history by focusing on the "4th of July" celebrations in the years 1870, 1883, 1892, 1903, 1924, 1941, 1956, 1970, 1978, and 2001. This engaging yet thought-provoking read explores broader themes in American history through the lens of one Jersey Shore town.