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Books Mon Apr 16 2012
"City of Scoundrels": Book Release
Gary Krist, author of The White Cascade, writer for the New York Times, Esquire, Salon, the Washington Post Book World, among others, is releasing his latest novel on Tuesday, Apr 17. City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago, is a historical account of the twelve days in the summer of 1919, and the disaster and shock that Chicago endured.
The novel begins with the nation's first aeronautical disaster, the Wingfoot Express blimp, which crashed into the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago's Loop on Monday, July 21, 1919. Krist uses eyewitness accounts to retell the tale of the inferno of horror that the Wingfoot created when it crashed into the bank and burned the workers alive.
After the graphic prologue, Krist cuts to Chicago's mayor William Hale Thompson, or "Big Bill," as he was better known. Krist shares the life of "Big Bill", an over-the-top character who succeeded in making a name for himself as the city's worst mayor. The culmination of "Big Bill's" failures as a leader to the people of Chicago took place during those riotous twelve days in 1919 when the city endured its first major aviation disaster, the murder of a six-year-old girl named Janet Wilkinson, race riots & bombings, and a transit strike.
Through this turmoil "Big Bill" and his cronies neglected the city in order to concentrate on the matters they considered most important, namely, votes. But, despite "Big Bill's" hands off approach during what could have ended Chicago, the city pushed on through the tragedy and came out on top, with a new alias, the "City of Scoundrels," characterized by historically greedy politicians, and the spirit and perseverance of its people.
City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago will be available for purchase on Tuesday, Apr 17.
Anonymous / April 25, 2012 3:25 PM
"The novel begins with the nation's first?" This is Non-Fiction not an historical novel.