The masterfully told story of twelve volatile days in the life of Chicago, when an aviation disaster, a race riot, a crippling transit strike, and a sensational child murder transfixed and roiled a city already on the brink of collapse.When 1919 began, the city of Chicago seemed on the verge of transformation. Modernizers had an audacious, expensive plan to turn the city from a brawling, … brawling, unglamorous place into “the Metropolis of the World.” But just as the dream seemed within reach, pandemonium broke loose and the city’s highest ambitions were suddenly under attack by the same unbridled energies that had given birth to them in the first place.
It began on a balmy Monday afternoon when a blimp in flames crashed through the roof of a busy downtown bank, incinerating those inside. Within days, a racial incident at a hot, crowded South Side beach spiraled into one of the worst urban riots in American history, followed by a transit strike that paralyzed the city. Then, when it seemed as if things could get no worse, police searching for a six-year-old girl discovered her body in a dark North Side basement.
Meticulously researched and expertly paced, City of Scoundrels captures the tumultuous birth of the modern American city, with all of its light and dark aspects in vivid relief.
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Enjoyed the book.
City of Scoundrels by Gary Krist is historical non-fiction covering the story of a particularly horrific week-and-a-half in the history of Chicago, specifically, July 21st to July 31st 1919. The experimental flight of an airship kicked the eleven days off when it caught fire above the Loop and crashed through the atrium of a bank building, …
Interesting but depressing story
Too much politics
informative book about Chicago..
Great information about a segment of Chicago history exactly 100 years ago. I had not been familiar with any of it. Although it is sad to see that not much has changed in political power struggles, race relations, financial greed, sexual deviants, and more in this great city, it is a snapshot of all humanity in reality. The focus on Chicago is …
Gary Krist’s City of Scoundrels is an in-depth look at Chicago’s summer of 1919. In 12 short days, the city experienced the following: a flaming blimp crashing through one of the city’s banks, killing a dozen passengers and bystanders; a violent race riot; a paralyzing transit strike; and the abduction and murder of a six-year-old girl. Just for …
In addition to learning about Chicago in the summer of 1919, I was struck by the similarities between the personalities of Mayor Big Thompson and President Trump. Of course, there were differences, especially with regards to their appeal to minorities, but their apparent arrogance, egotism, populism, and approach to rivals is strong.
I am from Chicago so reading this had special meaning. I thought some of the intricate detail of all the politics moved a little slow at times but it was setting the background. Even though I grew up in Chicago I still learned things from this book which is an enjoyment.
Can become bogged down in repetition
non-fiction regarding a traumatic time in early 20th century Chicago, with its crooked politicians, race riots, faulty technology, and the commencement of Prohibition–a brief period that encapsulates the era
Great history. Well done. Highly recommended.
Great history of Chicago and the fate of o e of the original Goodyear blimps
It’s amazing to me what we didn’t learn about Chicago history in school! Fascinating story of Chicago and how much it hasn’t changed!
An historic look at Chicago’s 12 days of tragedy in the summer of 1919. Easy to read and informative. Reminds me of Devil in the White City.
It seems that Chicago has a long history of tragedy, mostly man-made. The depiction of its early twentieth-century populist mayor is instructive.
Historical & VERY interesting, i would recommend……….
Too much time spent on Big Bill Thompson.