Working Americans 1880-2006: Social Movements (Working Americans: Volume 7) (Working Americans 1880-1999) [Hardcover]

Scott Derks (Author, Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This seventh volume in the Working Americans series takes a thematic approach, profiling individuals who "felt called upon to challenge accepted convention." Like the rest of the series, it describes its topic not by focusing on the achievements of individuals who have won renown--no Jane Addams or Cesar Chavez here--but on the experiences of ordinary people. The volume is arranged by decade, and for each decade, three or four social issues are highlighted. In a typical entry, that for Penelope Vertrees, who helped fund the defense of the Scottsboro boys, actions are described, and the description is supplemented with period illustrations, a time line of events relating to the action, a "historical snapshot" putting events in a broader context, and a selection of primary source materials. The social-issues approach doesn't fit into the series mold as neatly as other volumes, which concentrated more on economics, and the bulleting of each sentence in the profiles ("The news alarmed Ann") is annoying. Still, the Working Americans approach to social history is interesting, and each volume is worth exploring.

Mary Ellen Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Grey House Publishing; 1 edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592371019
• ISBN-13: 978-1592371013
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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