Shell Games: The Life and Times of Pearl McGill, Industrial Spy and Pioneer Labor Activist

by Jeffrey Copeland

Set against a backdrop of murder, intrigue, and industrial labor conflict in the early twentieth century pearl button industry, Shell Games graphically portrays one of the most important battles in the fight for safe and humane working conditions. Filtered through the thoughts and emotions of Pearl McGill, a woman who stood heroically against the injustices destroying the lives of so many around her in the shops and factories, this conflict vividly comes to life and underscores many of the concerns contemporary workers still encounter.

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2012

Reviews

[Lisa McClintick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing look at the era of pearl button manufacturing along the Mississippi River and how unions tried to change working conditions for the better.