Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Chicago History

by Adam Selzer, William Griffith

The lives of notorious bad guys, perpetrators of mischief, visionary--if misunderstood--thinkers, and other colorful antiheroes, jerks, and evil doers from history all get their due in the short essays featured in these enlightening, informative books. Speaking Ill of the Jerks in Chicago History features 15 short biographies of nefarious characters.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Adam Selzer blocked Goodreads on his computer for years but now he's on here, so let him have it. His first book was HOW TO GET SUSPENDED AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE (now available in a "Now With More Swearing") edition, his next one is PLAY ME BACKWARDS (for satanic young adults), and his best known is probably I KISSED A ZOMBIE AND I LIKED IT, a Twilight satire that was not marketed as a satire.

He also writes the SMART ALECK'S GUIDE series and has published a bunch of Chicago history/ghostlore books.

You can also find him under the name SJ Adams, the name he used for SPARKS: THE EPIC, COMPLETELY TRUE BLUE (ALMOST) HOLY QUEST OF DEBBIE, which won a Stonewall honor and made the YALSA popular paperback list.

Reviews

[Katie F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read!

[Addison Public Library]

Jerks are always entertaining to read about, and Chicago has had its fair share over the centuries. Starting with jerks in the founding days of the city, the book offers short profiles of twenty-five bad guys in Chicago’s history. Some, such as the child-killers Leopold and Loeb, are definitely darker than others; however, the reader comes away with a good idea of the hoods, cranks, killers, gangsters, and just plain ornery people who have called Chicago home.


KD

Check out this book today!

[KayDee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jerks are always entertaining to read about, and Chicago has had its fair share over the centuries. Starting with jerks in the founding days of the city, the book offers short profiles of twenty-five bad guys in Chicago’s history. Some, such as the child-killers Leopold and Loeb, are definitely darker than others; however, the reader comes away with a good idea of the hoods, cranks, killers, gangsters, and just plain ornery people who have called Chicago home.