Common Sense and a Little Fire: Women and Working-Class Politics in the United States, 1900-1965 (Gender & American Culture) (Paperback)

by Annelise Orleck (Author) "During the summer of 1907, when New York City was gripped by a severe economic depression, a group of young women workers who had been..." (more)
Key Phrases: industrial feminist vision, industrial feminism, industrial feminists, New York, Rose Schneiderman, Pauline Newman (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The life stories of four Jewish immigrant organizers--Rose Schneiderman, Pauline Newman, Clara Lemlich Shavelson and Fannia Cohn--frame Orleck's history of women in U.S. working-class movements. All had energized their communities and garment-factory shop floors, located on New York's Lower East Side, by their early 20s and were lifelong labor leaders. Consummate organizers (Newman conceived and led the largest rent strike New York had ever seen when she was 16), they negotiated the minefields of male labor leaders' sexism, middle- and upper-class feminists' elitism and the country's anti-Semitism and xenophobia to carve out careers, forge friendships and develop a politics Orleck describes as ``industrial feminism.'' Schneiderman's and Newman's most significant intimate relationships were with women. Orleck, an assistant professor of history at Dartmouth and herself the descendant of immigrant Jewish working-class organizers, draws on social history and on primary texts; some of the latter have only recently become accessible to scholars. In the hands of a skilled storyteller, this material would have been gripping, but Orleck's prose is matter-of-fact and often repetitive. Luckily, the rich factual detail and the epic nature of the women's lives sometimes overcome the shortcomings of the writing. Photos not seen by PW.

Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review
Substantially expands our knowledge of twentieth-century working-class women•s political activity.

New York History

A major contribution to twentieth-century labor history. . . . Orleck's book is rich in detail and comprehensive in analysis.

Reviews in American History

Highly recommended. Two thumbs up.

International Labor and Working Class History

Orleck's intelligent work reminds readers of a time when workers fought valiantly . . . to be represented by a union.

Choice

An interesting and important study. Common Sense and a Little Fire is worth the read.

Journal of American History

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (May 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807845116
• ISBN-13: 978-0807845110
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #710,905 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great book on a powerful topic, December 17, 2000

By A Customer

This book chronicles the lives of four working-class Jewish immigrant women from their common start as survivors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire through their careers as labor leaders. These women are absolutely astounding American heroes just waiting to be discovered. In addition to her awe-inspiring subject matter, Orleck also employes a readable and interesting writing style that is true to life and avoids becoming bogged down with useless facts. This book reminded me how much one person really can make a difference simply through conviction and perseverance.