From Library Journal
Adams, the editor of Chicago History magazine, has selected 35 of the best articles appearing in the magazine between 1974 and 1996, aimed at compiling a one-volume history of the Windy City and showing the metamorphosis of an 1830s frontier outpost into the great metropolis of today. The objective is to strike a balance between the process of city building and the contributions made by all Chicagoans to the city's political, social, economic, and cultural development. The coverage is uneven: commercial growth and, later, massive industrialization receive skimpy and episodic treatment, but political, social, and cultural matters get fuller and more flavorful coverage. The vintage illustrations and contemporary photos enhance the text, which includes a foreword by Chicagoan Studs Terkel. Recommended for urban studies and American regional history collections of academic libraries.AHarry Frumerman, formerly with Hunter Coll., New York
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Chicago's uniqueness as a major American city lies in dichotomy; it is as comfortable as an old shoe, but there is always something unexpected, and this collection of articles from Chicago History magazine throughout the years highlights both these aspects of the Second City. From humble beginnings at Fort Dearborn to the country's rail hub to status as a primary wellspring of culture (the Chicago Symphony, poet Carl Sandburg, novelist James Farrell, et al.), all this and more is richly documented in these pages. Did you know that for some time after the Haymarket anarchy riot and subsequent trial, Chicago was considered the anarchy capital of the world? Or that products were advertised as preventing influenza during the deadly epidemic of 1918? Or that Chicago's reputation for superb theater was aided greatly by cultural programs at Hull House? And that is just the tip of the iceberg of fascinating history (though occasionally a little dry) dispensed in these pages, a must-have for any Chicagophile or casual browser. Joe Collins
