Back of the Yards: The Making of a Local Democracy [Paperback]

Robert A. Slayton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1988 | ISBN-10: 0226761991 | ISBN-13: 978-0226761992

"Robert A. Slayton's Back of the Yards is one of the finest accounts I have ever read on an urban, working-class neighborhood in twentieth-century America. Its focus on family, politics, and worklife is penetrating and its conclusions reinforce an emerging scholarly picture of ordinary people exercising unique forms of power."—John Bodnar, author of The Transplanted: A History of Immigrants in Urban America

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Until now, the historic Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago has been neglected by social historians. The packinghouse district, made famous by Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (1906), provides a case study in the evolution of an immigrant community over two generations. Originally fragmented by religion and ethnicity, people gradually were drawn together into ever-larger interest groups. Slayton's book, based partly on interviews, presents a colorful and moving picture of this diverse area, its people, their homes, and their jobs. The author's sensitivity to the community's character sometimes leads him dangerously close to veneration and a facile interpretation of democratic progress. Nevertheless, this is recommended for those interested in the emergence of cities. Charles K. Piehl, Director of Grants Management, Mankato State Univ., Minn.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 291 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (April 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226761991
• ISBN-13: 978-0226761992
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good History Lesson, May 10, 2007

By 

William J. Martin (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Back of the Yards: The Making of a Local Democracy (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book. It takes place near the Chicago stockyards and provides ample evidence on how this partcular neighborhood developed over the years mainly via immigration. Much of the history takes place during the 19th century when there was no regulations regarding child labor etc. The work in the slaughterhouses was long, hard and dangerous with management paying little heed for these peoples welfare. Over the years, it all began to change when the worker's started to get some rights of their own by either taking matters in their own hands ...........

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Back of the Yards': Exceptionally Good Read, October 20, 2010

By 

Toni Armstrong Jr. "[e-mail]" (Riviera Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Back of the Yards: The Making of a Local Democracy (Paperback)

My mom grew up Back of the Yards (1920s-1940s) and is currently spellbound reading this book. She raves daily that is teaching her about her parents' lives as well as mentioning many people by name that she grew up with, particularly in relation to St. John of God Catholic parish. Apparently the author really researched details as well as bigger themes. My mom would rate this book 11 stars on a 10-star scale. Don't hesitate to buy if you or your older relatives are from that part of Chicago.