Customer Reviews

Miss Bidwell's Spirit

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Claire Bidwell, a recent graduate of journalism school and offspring of a rich and influential family, takes a job as a reporter for the River City Dispatch in New Jersey because (to her amazement) the New York Times didn't invite her to join them upon reception of her application and college clippings.

Just a short trip across the Hudson river from New York, River City is from another era. It's still run by an old time political machine headed by Johnny Crehan, aka "Johnny Crayons," given that affectionate moniker by his Italian allies during his first campaign.

Claire Bidwell decides he's corrupt and plans to use an exposé of him as her ticket to the Times. At first it seems hopeless. Claire has no idea how to even start.

But then she gets unexpected help from Gene Fennessy, former editor of the Dispatch and Pulitzer prize winner. He becomes her mentor, giving her a crash course in real life reporting and a native's understanding of the way the political process runs in River City.

But even River City isn't immune to the changing times. There's been an influx of new immigrant blood and young suburbanites have been moving into the downtown area. Individualists, they're restless for change and have no loyalty to the way the city's politics -- or politicians -- have always operated.

When Dr. Bob Ritter, a rising young challenger, comes along they're eager to embrace and his Good Government Now platform. Claire sees this as her chance to finally bring Johnny Crayons down.

Interesting book. Warren Murphy and Ron Semple were reports in Newark in the era when this type of government by the people and for the people was still going strong. Johnny and his cronies don't exactly go by the book, democratically, but still the spirit of democracy is served. Miss Bidwell's Spirit is like a civics lesson in practical democracy, one that today's politicians could learn from.

I would recommend this book to any future journalists. Murphy and Semple use Gene and Claire's teacher/student relationship to illustrate many practical, common sense lessons they probably spent time learning the hard way.

But don't get me; this doesn't read like a combination civics/journalism textbook. The lessons are woven seamlessly into the action and the story of Claire's investigations into Johnny Crayons moves forward and holds your interest.

Claire Bidwell, a recent graduate of journalism school and offspring of a rich and influential family, takes a job as a reporter for the River City Dispatch in New Jersey because (to her amazement) the New York Times didn't invite her to join them upon reception of her application and college clippings.

Just a short trip across the Hudson river from New York, River City is from another era. It's still run by an old time political machine headed by Johnny Crehan, aka "Johnny Crayons," given that affectionate moniker by his Italian allies during his first campaign.

Claire Bidwell decides he's corrupt and plans to use an exposé of him as her ticket to the Times. At first it seems hopeless. Claire has no idea how to even start.

But then she gets unexpected help from Gene Fennessy, former editor of the Dispatch and Pulitzer prize winner. He becomes her mentor, giving her a crash course in real life reporting and a native's understanding of the way the political process runs in River City.

But even River City isn't immune to the changing times. There's been an influx of new immigrant blood and young suburbanites have been moving into the downtown area. Individualists, they're restless for change and have no loyalty to the way the city's politics -- or politicians -- have always operated.

When Dr. Bob Ritter, a rising young challenger, comes along they're eager to embrace his Good Government Now platform. Claire sees this as her chance to finally bring Johnny Crayons down.

Interesting book. Warren Murphy and Ron Semple were reporters in Newark in the era when this type of government by the people and for the people was still going strong. Johnny and his cronies don't exactly go by the book, democratically, but still the spirit of democracy is served. Miss Bidwell's Spirit is like a civics lesson in practical democracy, one that today's politicians could learn from.

I would recommend this book to any future journalists. Murphy and Semple use Gene and Claire's teacher/student relationship to illustrate many practical, common sense lessons they probably spent time learning the hard way.

But don't get me; this doesn't read like a combination civics/journalism textbook. The lessons are woven seamlessly into the action and the story of Claire's investigations into Johnny Crayons moves forward and holds your interest.