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38th out of 74 books
—
14 voters
City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago
by
Gary Krist
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 f...more
When 1919 began, the city of Chicago seemed on the verge of transformation. Modernizers had an audacious, expensive plan to turn the city f...more
Hardcover, 347 pages
Published
April 17th 2012
by Crown
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Having lived in Chicago for only 8 months, I am already intrigued by the history and architecture this city has to offer. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it in order to learn more about this wondrous place.
This book ended up being ok for me. There were parts I loved and parts that I thought were so-so. I barely finished reading it before my 14 day checkout period was up which is rare for me. The actual events that took place in 1919 included the crash of a blimp into downtown Chicago,...more
This book ended up being ok for me. There were parts I loved and parts that I thought were so-so. I barely finished reading it before my 14 day checkout period was up which is rare for me. The actual events that took place in 1919 included the crash of a blimp into downtown Chicago,...more
Krist paints a fairly clear picture of Chicago just post-WWI. He chose well in framing the book with the series of unimaginable catastrophes that defined the late summer of 1919- the Wingfoot crash was a particularly ghastly demonstration of the collision between the old city and modernity. The book was most vivid and enjoyable when sketching out the political rivalry between Big Bill Thompson and IL governor Frank Lowden. Krist's attempts to capture the ordinary Chicagoan's perspective fell at...more
The summer of 1919 was an incendiary point in Chicago history. The post-World War I years, with their economic downturns, labour unrest, and mounting racial tensions, had been especially chaotic, even in a city that grew from a frontier town into an American metropolis in less than a hundred years. Gary Krist's City of Scoundrels takes an entertaining but meaningful look at the twelve days in July 1919 that affected the destiny of the city and arguably the country too.
The narrative begins with t...more
The narrative begins with t...more
I grew up with a mother who spent a lot of time in Chicago, although she grew up in Springfield, IL. Her mother was a real society matron and traveled to Chicago for shopping, the theater and luncheons with her friends. As a child myself, Chicago was as familiar to me as Houston which was only 70 miles away. All of this background contributed to my interest in and appreciation of City of Scoundrels but the background isn't necessary to enjoying this book. The author uses a specific 12 day period...more
I left Chicago over 40 years ago. But I never really left behind my affection or emotional ties. Both of my parents were native Chicagoans. My paternal grandparents were native Chicagoans as were their parents and their six siblings. My maternal grandparents lived and worked their adult lives in Chicago. It has throng connections for me.
I grew up when Chicago and Cook County were Democratic fiefdoms ... so I found it strange and a bit disconcerting to read about Big Bill Thompson and the concep...more
I grew up when Chicago and Cook County were Democratic fiefdoms ... so I found it strange and a bit disconcerting to read about Big Bill Thompson and the concep...more
“City of Scoundrels” by Gary Krist, published by Crown Publishers.
Category – History
What can one say about Chicago? A city that has been plagued by political scandal since the 1900’s, but has maintained its image of a modern and vibrant city.
“City of Scoundrels” is a story of just twelve days in 1919 that shows both the rotten and good side of this teeming metropolis. The story begins with the crash of the blimp, “Wingfoot Express”, continues through the search for a missing child, continues thr...more
Category – History
What can one say about Chicago? A city that has been plagued by political scandal since the 1900’s, but has maintained its image of a modern and vibrant city.
“City of Scoundrels” is a story of just twelve days in 1919 that shows both the rotten and good side of this teeming metropolis. The story begins with the crash of the blimp, “Wingfoot Express”, continues through the search for a missing child, continues thr...more
I absolutely loved reading this engaging book! I took a history of Chicago class in college, and so I expected that there would be a lot of overlapping information presented here in Krist’s in-depth analysis of 12 days in Chicago’s history in 1919. The unique information really took me by surprise and I just loved the entire reading experience! Krist opened his book explosively (literally!) with a prologue recounting the first national aviation disaster - the crash of the Wingfoot Express. The p...more
I really enjoyed this book, mostly for the look back at Chicago at time that I am very unfamilar. One thing that I liked was that I could indirectly relate to this book, through my relatives who lived on Chicago's south side during that time. My grandmother was born on the south side in March of that very year, so her family would have been aware, if not witness, to some of the things happening, specifically the race riots that engulfed the south side. I'm a big history buff and if I can find so...more
Gary Krist brings to life the many tales of woe that befell the city of Chicago in the summer of 1919 -- a post-war year that started out with celebration and hope. But soon a dirigible crashes, killing 13 people, a young girl is murdered, race riots break out, fires decimate a neighborhood, a transit strike looms and political turmoil ensues.
Mr. Krist's story starts out strongly with the dirigible crash. He sketches out a few of the people involved in the incident, so with an emotional investme...more
Mr. Krist's story starts out strongly with the dirigible crash. He sketches out a few of the people involved in the incident, so with an emotional investme...more
During two short weeks in 1919, the city of Chicago suffered a terrible air disaster (a blimp burst into flames and crashed through the roof of a downtown building), the tragic kidnapping and death of a young girl, a transit strike, and one of the worst race riots in the history of the U.S. Author Krist weaves the story of this calamitous time with that of the politicians (Mayor Big Bill Thompson and Governor Frank Lowden) who were in power. The narrative at times had me on the edge of my seat a...more
This wasn't even remotely what I was expecting going in. I had thought it would be spotlighting 12 individual days of horror (the Chicago fire, some of Capone's more notable exploits, major bank heists, etc), not 12 consecutive days in one month, let alone one year. When I realized what it was actually going to be like, I almost passed. I'm glad I didn't, however, because it ended up being really really good. I almost think it's better this way, anyway, showing the (nearly) two weeks of disaster...more
This book starts by pulling us into a dramatic scene of a blimp crashing into the heart of Chicago. The author uses personal accounts to re-tell this story and it reads like the best thriller. Unfortunately, the intensity is lost when from there we go into an in-depth look at backroom city politics. We're given a tremendous amount of detail about the Chicago mayor and his run for office. For me, the detail was more than I needed or wanted and I found myself losing interest.
Eventually, we get a r...more
Eventually, we get a r...more
Full disclosure: I was sent this volume as a Firstreads giveaway on the premise that I would write a review of it. (I would not be surprised to learn that the fact I have reviewed two previous Chicago history books influenced the contest.) Also, my copy is an uncorrected proof, and small changes may have been made between it and the final product.
Late July of 1919 was certainly a troubled time for the city of Chicago, and thus one ripe for interesting history. The book opens with an account of t...more
Late July of 1919 was certainly a troubled time for the city of Chicago, and thus one ripe for interesting history. The book opens with an account of t...more
An energetic and readable summary of a simply ruinous two-week period that hit Chicago in July 1919. Krist starts this history with a spectacular blimp crash (not a typo), before pulling back the camera and introducing us to the politicians, reporters, and other historical figures who would make their mark on Chicago. As he comes back to July of 1919, Krist weaves in a missing-child story that feels up-to-date in its breathless and constant coverage, a transit strike, a race riot, and the battle...more
This is a fascinating book about 12 days in July 1919 when Chicago was rocked by disasters that changed it forever. Gary Krist comes out of the gate with the compelling story of the first of the disasters, a dirigible crash, but then devolves into more detail about the politics of the city than is probably necessary. The first 100 pages of the book revolve almost completely around the machinations of a few political figures. While this serves as an admirable and somewhat necessary backdrop, it o...more
In 1919 it appeared that Chicago was coming apart at the seams. Ft. Dearborn massacare,the Fire,
cholera epidemic,the Haymarket & Pullman strike,the Irquois Theater, the Eastland,blimp crash,race riots,Al Capone,Leopald & Loeb, the Depression,Memorial Day Massacare,Our Lady of the Angels, Summerdale,riots in the 60's,Speck & Gacy, Rust Belt, blizzards, Council Wars, white flight, urban renewal,heat waves, Cabrini Green; crooked,tribal politics.Budget woes, bad schools,bad air,high cri...more
cholera epidemic,the Haymarket & Pullman strike,the Irquois Theater, the Eastland,blimp crash,race riots,Al Capone,Leopald & Loeb, the Depression,Memorial Day Massacare,Our Lady of the Angels, Summerdale,riots in the 60's,Speck & Gacy, Rust Belt, blizzards, Council Wars, white flight, urban renewal,heat waves, Cabrini Green; crooked,tribal politics.Budget woes, bad schools,bad air,high cri...more
Having been excited about Chicago history in reading Devil in the White City, this book promised to provide an update of Chicago’s history after the World’s Fair in the late 1890’s.
Gary Krist is not as elegant with his prose as Larson but he does tell a good story about two weeks in 1919 in which a blimp crashes on a skyscraper, transit workers go on strike, a corrupt mayor leaves town to play cowboy, and a race riots breaks out on Chicago’s south side.
The only disappointment is that the book...more
Gary Krist is not as elegant with his prose as Larson but he does tell a good story about two weeks in 1919 in which a blimp crashes on a skyscraper, transit workers go on strike, a corrupt mayor leaves town to play cowboy, and a race riots breaks out on Chicago’s south side.
The only disappointment is that the book...more
As a history buff, I really enjoyed this book. The author looks at a series of events that occurred over a two week period in 1919 -- a fiery blimp crash (in downtown Chicago, which seems incredible now), the disappearance of a young girl, a transit strike, and devastating race fueled riots. These events are viewed within the framework of Chicago politics of that time, primarily based on the leadership (or lack thereof) of then mayor "Big Bill" Thompson and his nemesis, governor Frank Lowden.
It...more
It...more
I was expecting something like "Devil in the White City" based on the book blurbs talking about race riots, blimp crashes,kidnappings, and politics within the city of Chicago. I did not feel the two stories in the Devil book held together at all. I liked the way "City of Scoundrels" was put together much better. I found these stories, told in alternating chapters, really set the mood for the city during the 12 days in question and explained how it felt to live in the city. The book focused a lot...more
Had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book, other than I knew it was about Chicago. I actually thought, because of the cover and the title, that it would be about the Great Chicago Fire. I was wrong. However, I really enjoyed this read. It centers around Chicago in the 1920's. The author obviously did meticulous research, as every story, quote, and scenario actually happened and he gathered evidence from old diaries, newspaper articles, and other sources to recreate Chicago in 1920 du...more
This book tells a true story about Chicago and was very interesting to read history in an easy to read format. The politics section didnt interest me at first, but then that was the main point of the events. I never heard this story of events before and made me what to read similiar stories.
It was very very disheartening to read about how humanity reacts to conflict. I found it very sad and since I lived through the time of the Detroit riots, I could relate to the fear of the people.
It is scary...more
It was very very disheartening to read about how humanity reacts to conflict. I found it very sad and since I lived through the time of the Detroit riots, I could relate to the fear of the people.
It is scary...more
This book is about a particularly bad run of luck that Chicago had in late July and early August of 1919. I won't give away the details, but it is a fairly disturbing chain of events. The book is well written, engaging and not too long. It is effective in telling the story by tying together the experiences of a number of local characters, some major and some minor. There is so much activity in the book that it reads very quickly. This is one of the best popular books about Chicago in recent year...more
A great historical account of several events in 1919 Chicago. The politics of today seem very similar and a continuation of the multiple levels of government in Illinois that plague the state with patronage and corruption. The most significant part of the book for me was the detail around the politics played that stopped any help being given to the African-American community during the race riot that lasted over a week. A sad account of how personal vendettas and dislike between Chicago's mayor...more
The story starts out so compelling, it is difficult to put down. For me this is especially true because of the years I spent working in Chicago's Loop where The Wingfoot Express had it's journey and ending in 1919. Krist's premise is that this tragedy combined with emerging Chicago politics, all the race riots, and a kidnapping which took place within twelve days "gave birth" to modern Chicago. I'm not sure I agree with this. Well into the book, I found the endless bickering and schemeing betwee...more
A multi-layered look at a remarkable period in Chicago's history. A very American and complex story.
All facts, great facts--characters who explode with their eccentricity and soul.
Everything happens-- dirigible2explodes, there are race riots, factions form and dissolve and form again. All the strands of fact are woven together with great skill and the imagination of a novelist.
You have the feeling of what it was like to live in that time, to breathe to be.
You also have the feeling of how new thi...more
All facts, great facts--characters who explode with their eccentricity and soul.
Everything happens-- dirigible2explodes, there are race riots, factions form and dissolve and form again. All the strands of fact are woven together with great skill and the imagination of a novelist.
You have the feeling of what it was like to live in that time, to breathe to be.
You also have the feeling of how new thi...more
In 1919, Chicago was trying to reinvent itself as a modern city where people and businesses would want to stay. The city had grown exponentially in the last 90 years and little planning went into much of the city’s infrastructure and many factories and housing were in terrible condition. In his discussion of what happened during this fateful year, Krist opens his book by following several individuals who were connected to a blimp accident that took place in the city. This tragic blimp incident s...more
My father in law who often gives me interesting books to read gave this to me. This was a great little history of 12 days of disaster in Chicago in 1919. It was very interesting and I recommend it to anyone interested in Chicago history and politics of this time period. World War I had just ended; Prohibition had just started, "Big Bill" Thompson is the Mayor, and there is a ton of racial tension that erupts into a terrifying race riot. There is also the "looming" newfound fear of child predator...more
Chicago, July 21st,1919...a flaming, hydrogen-filled blimp crashes through the roof of a major downtown bank. And for the next couple of weeks, things just keep on going downhill. Labor struggles force Chicago's transportation system to a halt, racial strife threatens to burn the city to the ground, and political animosities cripple government's response. A gripping read, City of Scoundrels sets these terrible events in context as Chicago comes of age in the 20th century. Reviewed by TS, Adult S...more
City of Scoundrels--12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth To Modern Chicago by Gary Krist is non-fiction that reads like a novel. WOW--Awesome book, way better than I expected! You want action, how about this: an election that splits the city, a blimp crashes into a bank, killing 13, a kidnapping of a child and then a public hanging of the person who did it, race riots, a transit strike, a judge commits suicide by jumping from the 13th floor. Wow, that's plenty for me! I loved this book and highly...more
Although City of Scoundrels is interesting and an alluring title, the book is not all that scandalous. Yet, it does (partly) live up to the latter part of the title: The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago.
Maybe it's because of modern desensitization, but I just did not agree with Gary Krist's opinion of what would be considered disastrous. Granted, it does appear for the twelve consecutive days during the summer of 1919, Chicago could not catch a break. A dirigible crash, a m...more
Maybe it's because of modern desensitization, but I just did not agree with Gary Krist's opinion of what would be considered disastrous. Granted, it does appear for the twelve consecutive days during the summer of 1919, Chicago could not catch a break. A dirigible crash, a m...more
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Apr 28, 2012 02:32pm