Customer Reviews

Urban Disorder and the Shape of Belief: The Great Chicago Fire, the Haymarket Bomb, and the Model Town of Pullman

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Smith has made perhaps a unique association between the events chronicled in his book. The 1871 Chicago Fire. The 1886 Haymarket bombing. And the making of Pullman town. His descriptions of each are well done and quite readable. For this alone, it can worthwhile to peruse his writings, as he explains the circumstances of each. Of the events, perhaps the Chicago Fire is the best remembered. While the other 2 are relegated to the scrutiny of professional historians.

I am unsure that despite his eloquent arguments, the events can be tied together as he so disposes. The presumed urban outlook shared by Americans of a century ago was shaped by many things. Maybe the events in the book were influential, but not decisive.