Against the odds, the Hudson Valley has cleaned up its act and rediscovered its soul. In this well researched and passionate treatise on the much celebrated but long abused Hudson, Roger Stone describes how protecting New York City’s drinking water supply, making innovative efforts to safeguard views and open space, and reconnecting communities with long abandoned stretches of priceless shoreline, have combined to bring about a new age of spirited restoration in a region that long seemed condemned to cultural and environmental mediocrity.    InThe Mightier Hudson, disparate historical, cultural, political, and environmental threads are linked to show clearly the multiple forces that have made this turnaround happen. Fascinating in itself, this success story stands as a vivid example of new ideas and values for a nation struggling to counter the devastating economic and environmental effects of misusing the landscape. Many linked stories of the extraordinary revival of the majestic Hudson River estuary and its surrounding areas show remarkable results, even in communities where hope was long in short supply, when it’s done right.