The Burning of the World: The Great Chicago Fire and the War for a City's Soul
by Berg, Scott W
- New
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- New/New
- ISBN 10
- 0804197849
- ISBN 13
- 9780804197847
- Seller
-
Argillite, Kentucky, United States
Item Price
NZ$52.82NZ$47.54
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
NY: Pantheon, 2023. 1st Edition. Hardcover_cloth spine. New/New. FIRST PRINTING W/DJ IN MYLAR. Physical Info: 1.6" H x 9.3" L x 6.1" W (1.75 lbs) 464 pages. Features: Bibliography, Illustrated, Index, Maps, Price on Product, Secure ship w/track #. The enthralling story of the Great Chicago Fire and the power struggle over the city's reconstruction in the wake of the tragedy
In October of 1871, Chicagoans knew they were due for the "big one"--a massive, uncontrollable fire that would decimate the city. There hadn't been a meaningful rain since July, and several big blazes had nearly outstripped the fire department's scant resources. On October 8, when Kate Leary's barn caught fire, so began a catastrophe that would forever change the soul of the city.
Leary was a diligent, hardworking Irish woman, no more responsible for the fire than anyone else in the city at that time. But the conflagration that spread from her property quickly overtook the neighborhood, and before too long the floating embers had spread to the far reaches of the city. Families took to the streets with everything they could carry. Grain towers threatened to blow. The Chicago River boiled. Over the course of the next forty-eight hours, Chicago saw the biggest and most destructive disaster the United States had ever endured, and Leary would be its scapegoat.
Out of the ashes rose not just new skyscrapers, tenements, and homes, but also a new political order. The city's elite saw an opportunity to rebuild on their terms, cracking down on crime and licentiousness and fortifying a business-friendly environment. But the city's working class recognized a naked power grab that would challenge their traditions, hurt their chances of rebuilding, and move power out of elected officials' hands and into private interests. As quickly as the firefight ended, another battle for the future of the city began between the town's business elites and the poor and immigrant working class.
An enrapturing account of the fire's devastating path and an eye-opening look at its aftermath, The Burning of the World tells the story of one of the most infamous calamities in history and the powerful transformation that followed.
In October of 1871, Chicagoans knew they were due for the "big one"--a massive, uncontrollable fire that would decimate the city. There hadn't been a meaningful rain since July, and several big blazes had nearly outstripped the fire department's scant resources. On October 8, when Kate Leary's barn caught fire, so began a catastrophe that would forever change the soul of the city.
Leary was a diligent, hardworking Irish woman, no more responsible for the fire than anyone else in the city at that time. But the conflagration that spread from her property quickly overtook the neighborhood, and before too long the floating embers had spread to the far reaches of the city. Families took to the streets with everything they could carry. Grain towers threatened to blow. The Chicago River boiled. Over the course of the next forty-eight hours, Chicago saw the biggest and most destructive disaster the United States had ever endured, and Leary would be its scapegoat.
Out of the ashes rose not just new skyscrapers, tenements, and homes, but also a new political order. The city's elite saw an opportunity to rebuild on their terms, cracking down on crime and licentiousness and fortifying a business-friendly environment. But the city's working class recognized a naked power grab that would challenge their traditions, hurt their chances of rebuilding, and move power out of elected officials' hands and into private interests. As quickly as the firefight ended, another battle for the future of the city began between the town's business elites and the poor and immigrant working class.
An enrapturing account of the fire's devastating path and an eye-opening look at its aftermath, The Burning of the World tells the story of one of the most infamous calamities in history and the powerful transformation that followed.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Blacks Bookshop (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 16314
- Title
- The Burning of the World: The Great Chicago Fire and the War for a City's Soul
- Author
- Berg, Scott W
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover_cloth spine
- Book Condition
- New
- Jacket Condition
- New
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0804197849
- ISBN 13
- 9780804197847
- Publisher
- Pantheon
- Place of Publication
- NY
- Date Published
- 2023
Terms of Sale
Blacks Bookshop
All items are sold as described. If you have received the wrong item being the wrong book title or author, or there was damage during shipping, please contact us within 48 hours of receipt via email to request a refund. In your email, please state order number, date received by mail, and your reason for requesting a refund. We do not give refunds because you change your mind or you have found the item somewhere else at a lesser price.
About the Seller
Blacks Bookshop
Biblio member since 2021
Argillite, Kentucky
About Blacks Bookshop
A little country book shop nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains along the banks of the East Fork of Little Sandy River.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Poor
- A book with significant wear and faults. A poor condition book is still a reading copy with the full text still readable. Any...