Customer Reviews

Red Corner: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Northeastern Montana

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The Red Corner: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Northeastern Montana is the true story of how Sheridan County of Montana became a successful, virtually Communist community during the 1920s and early 1930s. Sheridan County used to have a government run primarily by Communists, a Communist youth camp, and an official newspaper of the American Communist Party, the "Producers News". Communist influence declined in the 30's, and in time residents came to view Sheridan County's Communist days as a mark of shame. Author and professor Verlaine Stoner McDonald reconstitutes history from newspaper accounts, oral testimonies, FBI reports, and internal Communist Party files in The Red Corner, creating a thoroughly accessible encapsulation of the Sheridan County Communist movement's evolution, effects, and legacy. The result is an excellent addition to college library and Montana history shelves.

The Red Corner tells the true story of how a communist conspiracy stretching from Montana to the Kremlin enabled a group of radicals to sweep the elections of Sheridan County, Montana, and achieve unprecedented political success. It's a compelling and sordid story that includes prostitution, armed robbery, murder, as well as hardship on the American frontier. It's almost unbelievable how successful the radicals were in deceiving local citizens for so long, but McDonald gives some valuable insights into the economic and social forces of the day that made the communist message so attractive. The author tells the story well, and she describes the events in the context of other radical political movements of the day. I highly recommend it.

A communist newspaper editor moves into the the tiny town of Plentywood, Montana, and, along with a few radical cronies, convinces a large percentage of the local farmers to support the communist cause. It's almost too crazy of a story to believe, but Verlaine McDonald has done solid research to present this fascinating story. The Red Corner is history at its compelling best.

Well documented for such a subject that most people, even though living in the area, had never heard about. A little long in some areas but overall an enjoyable read.