Customer Reviews

The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. O'Leary's Cow

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
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This work is simply superb! It is exhaustively researched, well-organized, tightly argued, beautifully illustrated, and entirely convincing. It covers virtually every feature of the fire, the resulting botched investigation, and the era's social contexts. An outstanding model of research, analysis, and writing.

Very detailed and informative book about "The rest of the story." The author not only offers his version of the facts of the case, but also gives one an understanding of the politics and social mood of the period in which the fire took place. The photographs and drawings are terrific. There are few, if any, unanswered questions after reading this book. It's worth the money, I would say.

Dick Bales has covered every possible base in getting to the bottom of The Great Chicago Fire. With this event happening 130+ years ago, most people don't realize the devastation that this fire caused. The illustrations, photos and other research documents bring it into perspective on what may have really happened. I am sure many have been taught in school the myth of Mrs. O'Leary and her cow, but this book blows that idea out of the water! This should become required reading in every school so the truth may finally be revealed. A++++++

Finally an accurate narrative of what actually happened to cause the The Great
Chicago Fire. Its nice to see Mrs O'Leary vindicated from the false charges
that have hung over her all these years and the Cow too.

This book is mostly composed of footnotes!!! Footnotes, not narrative. The "meat" of the book could have been handled in about 50 pages (as it is there are only 5 chapters) and maybe less if the duplications were removed. Great concept and this guy certainly did a lot of research...but it is hardly worth the soft cover price. Thankfully,, I didn't buy the hardcover one.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN THE BARN LOCATED ON THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 137 DE KOVEN STREET IN CHICAGO ON THE EVENING OF SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1871? DID A POSSIBLY INTOXICATED IRISH WOMAN WITH THE COMPLICITY OF HER BOVINE CONFEDERATE START THE MOST DEVASTATING URBAN FIRE IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES? OR, DID SOME OTHER PERSON(S) GET AWAY WITH STARTING THE BLAZE AND LEAVE THE BLAME ON AN INNOCENT HARD WORKING IMMIGRANT WHO EMBODIES "THE CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS"? IF YOU LIKE REAL LIFE MYSTERIES, INVOLVING LIFE AND DEATH DRAMA, TALES OF HEROISM COMBINED WITH INCOMPETENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS CONDUCTING SHAM INVESTIGATIONS DESIGNED SOLELY TO COVER THEIR VERY EXPOSED BACKSIDES, YOU'LL LOVE THIS BOOK. WRITTEN IN A VERY READABLE STYLE, FILLED WITH GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS AND UNIQUE DIAGRAMS, THIS BOOK IS PERFECT FOR ANYONE FROM SCHOLAR TO CASUAL OBSERVER OF THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE AND ITS ORIGINS. ALTHOUGH THE WHO AND THE HOW OF THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRE ARE NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS THE EFFECT OF THE FIRE, AND THE RE-BUILDING WHICH FOLLOWED IT, THE STORY TOLD IN THIS BOOK FILLS A MUCH NEEDED GAP IN THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE, AND THE GROWTH OF CHICAGO POST 1871. THE BOOK IS FULLY ANNOTATED, SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO READ FURTHER ABOUT ANY ASPECT OF THE FIRE AND ITS IMPACT, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT STARTING POINT. MR. BALES HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF GIVING US HIS TAKE ON THE MYSTERY OF THE START OF THE FIRE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING THE READER ALL THE EVIDENCE UPON WHICH TO FORM THEIR OWN OPINION. AS FASCINATING AS THE STORY OF THE GOINGS ON IN THE O'LEARY BARN ARE, THE PLAYING OUT OF THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION IS VERY INCITEFUL ON HOW THE SCRAMBLE TO AVOID BLAME LEFT MRS. O'LEARY AND THE "SCAPE COW" BEING THE MOST INFAMOUS CITIZENS OF CHICAGO AFTER AL CAPONE. ITS A GREAT READ BOUND UP IN A HANDSOME VOLUME, WELL WORTH THE PRICE.