Rick Geary tackles the most controversial case of the 20th century. Anarchists Sacco & Vanzetti were accused of robbery and murder but so many supposedly damning pieces of evidence were questionable their guilty verdict elicited massive protests around the world. Geary presents us with all the twists and turns, appeals and dubious evidence after presenting us the human face of the two men, demonized by many, turned to martyrs by many others in his usual unflappable way.
The Lives of Sacco & Vanzetti
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Editorial Reviews
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"Chalk one more up for the history books and another great contribution to the country's wealth of graphic lit." —Kirkus Reviews
"Multiple stars for accessibility to difficult subject matter, fine art work, skillful narrative flow, and well documented research. Treats the politically motivated executions of the titular Italian immigrants with just due. The book will serve as a good alternative text in American history and social studies courses." —www.blog.SchoolLibraryJournal.com
"The quiet effectiveness of Geary's consciously old-fashioned drawing style is reinforced by his thorough recreation of period details." —Booklist
"Geary's historical mysteries always sparkle with clarity, both in the artwork and plot, and in this book he also resists the urge to decide that one side was right, all while giving the reader the most up-to-date information possible." —Teacher Librarian
"His art, as always, is ceaselessly expressive and charming, but let's also give credit to this modern American master as one whose complete craft is at its peak." —Miami Herald
"If anyone can bring an eighty year story to life, Geary is the man for the job. He tells the story with aplomb and allows another generation of students to see this case." —Library Media Connection
About the Author
An award-winning cartoonist and illustrator, Rick Geary has worked for Marvel Entertainment Group, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and Heavy Metal, and has contributed to National Lampoon and The New York Times Book Review.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best in the series, but still fascinating and compelling
January 28, 2012
Format:Hardcover
I'm probably all out of superlatives to describe Rick Geary's "Murder Treasury" books -- eight books were published in the "Treasury of Victorian Murder" from 1995 through 2007, and four since then have comprised the "Treasury of XXth Century Murder" -- since I've reviewed many of them over the past few years.
2011's entry in the series is THE LIVES OF SACCO AND VANZETTI, an impeccably researched, carefully constructed, and utterly engrossing book about two anarchists convicted and executed for murder in the early 1920s, despite mixed evidence and world-wide outrage about the case. (It was one of the very first times that there really was world-wide coverage of a single event, in that first era in which news truly became global.)
As usual, Geary doesn't pick a side -- he presents all of the evidence, as dispassionately as possible, and ends with a page detailing the best arguments on both sides. (He clearly prefers murder stories that are still mysteries, decades later -- the stories that are unfinished, and will never be fully closed.) And his linework is as precise and detailed -- just this side of finicky -- as ever. I find that the least-known cases make for the most fascinating Geary books, since all of the facts are completely new, but even this heavily picked-over piece of history gives him a lot of scope to retell the story.
2011's entry in the series is THE LIVES OF SACCO AND VANZETTI, an impeccably researched, carefully constructed, and utterly engrossing book about two anarchists convicted and executed for murder in the early 1920s, despite mixed evidence and world-wide outrage about the case. (It was one of the very first times that there really was world-wide coverage of a single event, in that first era in which news truly became global.)
As usual, Geary doesn't pick a side -- he presents all of the evidence, as dispassionately as possible, and ends with a page detailing the best arguments on both sides. (He clearly prefers murder stories that are still mysteries, decades later -- the stories that are unfinished, and will never be fully closed.) And his linework is as precise and detailed -- just this side of finicky -- as ever. I find that the least-known cases make for the most fascinating Geary books, since all of the facts are completely new, but even this heavily picked-over piece of history gives him a lot of scope to retell the story.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
1920s America, two men murder two other men who are carrying payroll money worth $15,000 and take off with another three accomplices in a car. With no leads, the police end up arresting a pair of Italian-Americans, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, at 10pm in a streetcar who are "suspicious looking" and upon further investigation are found to be heavily armed. Thus begins a complicated court case which exposes the corruption of the American "justice" system and the prejudices of a country calling itself free.
Rick Geary combs through the past and presents another wonderful book about a famous murder case long forgotten by the modern public. Geary's style is to show all sides to the case and highlight problems within it, allowing the reader to decide for themselves on the true culprit.
"Sacco and Vanzetti" is mostly the story of a court case gone wrong from unreliable witnesses taken seriously, to evidence tampering, to a prejudicial judge, to the defence's own incompetence, though the book seems to show that Sacco and Vanzetti (if you believe are innocent as I do) were simply and tragically two men in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The book is a fascinating read from start to finish with Geary telling the story of this case with clarity and eloquence, bringing to life a case over eighty years old with the ease of a master storyteller. Fans of Geary will delight in it, and rightfully so as it's a fine crime book. It might be a bit dry though for new readers to Geary looking for more action - for them I suggest Geary's other books "The Beast of Chicago" and "The Terrible Ax-Man of New Orleans".
Rick Geary combs through the past and presents another wonderful book about a famous murder case long forgotten by the modern public. Geary's style is to show all sides to the case and highlight problems within it, allowing the reader to decide for themselves on the true culprit.
"Sacco and Vanzetti" is mostly the story of a court case gone wrong from unreliable witnesses taken seriously, to evidence tampering, to a prejudicial judge, to the defence's own incompetence, though the book seems to show that Sacco and Vanzetti (if you believe are innocent as I do) were simply and tragically two men in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The book is a fascinating read from start to finish with Geary telling the story of this case with clarity and eloquence, bringing to life a case over eighty years old with the ease of a master storyteller. Fans of Geary will delight in it, and rightfully so as it's a fine crime book. It might be a bit dry though for new readers to Geary looking for more action - for them I suggest Geary's other books "The Beast of Chicago" and "The Terrible Ax-Man of New Orleans".
Format:Hardcover
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to this one *that* much as I prefer the ones about the bloody serial killers like "Beast of Chicago". I had never heard of this case and the robbery/murder, socialist/anarchist angle didn't get me that excited. Surprisingly though once I started reading I was quite taken with this case, especially the proceedings of the trial and the way the reader is left ruminating whether they were in fact guilty or innocent. It's amazing that with how this became such a worldwide controversy, with many country leaders of the 1920's and famous personages speaking out on the case that it has become so obscure today. One would think their names, at least, would have been remembered. I can only say what a pleasure it was to read Geary again, nobody (and I mean *no* body) does b/w graphic novels like Rick Geary. His artwork and presentation of these true crimes is pure joy to hold in your hands. I like the order Geary presented the story, first with the crime being committed, then going back and telling the life stories of the two individual accused and finally ending with the trial. It is quite shocking to today's standard's to see how prejudiced a 1920s courtroom could be. We have a sense today of people being racist against others because of their religion and mostly because of the colour of their skin but it is hard to comprehend the radical racism portrayed here against the Italians simply because of the country they came from. And to see these people discredited for that in the courtroom! Geary leaves us with the list for and against their innocence, the belief many professionals have today that at least Sacco was probably guilty and leaves us to ponder the question on our own. An intriguing case I would never have found myself reading about if it weren't for this book!
I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to this one *that* much as I prefer the ones about the bloody serial killers like "Beast of Chicago". I had never heard of this case and the robbery/murder, socialist/anarchist angle didn't get me that excited. Surprisingly though once I started reading I was quite taken with this case, especially the proceedings of the trial and the way the reader is left ruminating whether they were in fact guilty or innocent. It's amazing that with how this became such a worldwide controversy, with many country leaders of the 1920's and famous personages speaking out on the case that it has become so obscure today. One would think their names, at least, would have been remembered. I can only say what a pleasure it was to read Geary again, nobody (and I mean *no* body) does b/w graphic novels like Rick Geary. His artwork and presentation of these true crimes is pure joy to hold in your hands. I like the order Geary presented the story, first with the crime being committed, then going back and telling the life stories of the two individual accused and finally ending with the trial. It is quite shocking to today's standard's to see how prejudiced a 1920s courtroom could be. We have a sense today of people being racist against others because of their religion and mostly because of the colour of their skin but it is hard to comprehend the radical racism portrayed here against the Italians simply because of the country they came from. And to see these people discredited for that in the courtroom! Geary leaves us with the list for and against their innocence, the belief many professionals have today that at least Sacco was probably guilty and leaves us to ponder the question on our own. An intriguing case I would never have found myself reading about if it weren't for this book!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fitting format and an easy read
This is the first true crime graphic novel I have ever read, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the format lends itself to the story. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Donna S. Johnson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Meh.
An enormous wrong was clearly done to socialist immigrants Sacco and Venzetti. But this series is not about morality or righting wrongs. Read more
Published 20 months ago by tierny
