"Ely Jacques Kahn (1884-1972), preeminent twentieth-century architect of commercial buildings, was one of the most prolific architects in New York City. While his career spanned nearly half a century, his most widely known work is associated with the 1920s building boom in New York City in which the setback skyscraper emerged as a potent symbol of modern America. Ely Jacques Kahn, Architect is the first major critical study of his work and surveys his immense output. Kahn's buildings help define the rugged skyline of New York, one of the most recognized symbols of American democracy and free enterprise today."--BOOK JACKET.