Frank Michael O'Brien
The Story of the Sun: New York, 1833-1918
"The Story of the Sun: New York, 1833-1918" by Frank Michael O'Brien is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book chronicles the journey of The Sun, a penny newspaper started by Benjamin H. Day in New York City, detailing its rise, influence, and the transformative role it played in American journalism over several decades. It paints a vivid picture of the newspaper’s evolution, the personalities involved, and the significant events that shaped its history. The opening of the narrative introduces Benjamin H. Day, a young printer inspired to launch The Sun amid the cholera epidemic and economic depression of the early 1830s. O'Brien describes Day's struggles as he attempts to differentiate his publication from the many expensive and politically charged newspapers of the time. With only modest resources and a strong vision, Day focuses on human interest stories and local news. As Day sets the groundwork for The Sun’s future success, the focus is on his determination and insight into the needs of a growing urban readership, laying the foundation for what would become a revolutionary model in American journalism.