Dallas: The Making of a Modern City [Hardcover]

Patricia Evridge Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1996

From the ruthless deals of the Ewing clan on TV's "Dallas" to the impeccable customer service of Neiman-Marcus, doing business has long been the hallmark of Dallas. Beginning in the 1920s and 1930s, Dallas business leaders amassed unprecedented political power and civic influence, which remained largely unchallenged until the 1970s. In this innovative history, Patricia Evridge Hill explores the building of Dallas in the years before business interests rose to such prominence (1880 to 1940) and discovers that many groups contributed to the development of the modern city. In particular, she looks at the activities of organized labor, women's groups, racial minorities, Populist and socialist radicals, and progressive reformers--all of whom competed and compromised with local business leaders in the decades before the Great Depression. This research challenges the popular view that business interests have always run Dallas and offers a historically accurate picture of the city's development. The legacy of pluralism that Hill uncovers shows that Dallas can accommodate dissent and conflict as it moves toward a more inclusive public life. Dallas will be fascinating and important reading for all Texans, as well as for all students of urban development.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An important and refreshing look at the political and social roots of one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas. (Marilynn S. Johnson, Assistant Professor of History, Boston College ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Texas Pr; 1st edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292731035
• ISBN-13: 978-0292731035
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,076,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DALLAS, September 25, 2006

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dallas: The Making of a Modern City (Paperback)

The history of Dallas is of course a case study in power. The city was then and is now controled by the business elite, whether it's H.L. Hunt or the Curuth's of long ago or Raymond Nasher and Ray Hunt of today, it does not matter, power runs Dallas. This book does a fine job of chronicling the foundation of this truth and also sheding light on others that also attributed to the rise of this great city. I have always loved the fact that Dallas was run like a business by businessmen, and though the city had not always functioned like a well oiled fortune 500 company , Dallas for the most part has remained a city that works. If you have any interest in Dallas or well written books in general then I cant conceive that you would not enjoy this book.

0 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Read - Gave as Gift, February 22, 2010

By 

Kim "barbiedreamer" (The Colony, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dallas: The Making of a Modern City (Paperback)

My daughter-in-law had this book on her wish list. She and my son moved to Dallas from Atlanta. My son grew up in the Dallas area, but she was from Wisconsin. I can only assume it will be very informative for her . . . have never read it myself.