The Chains

by Gerald Green

The life of beautiful Eva Heilig-socialist, visionary, and orator--is intertwined with the lives of three generations of Chains, a rough, intrepid family of Brooklyn hoodlums, bootleggers, and ultimately, millionaire businessmen

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Gerald Green (April 8, 1922 – August 29, 2006) was an American author, journalist, and television writer. He attended Columbia College, where he edited the Jester, starred in several Varsity Shows, and was a member of the Philolexian Society. He graduated from the college in 1942 and, after serving in the US Army in Europe during the Second World War, where he was also the editor of the army's Stars and Stripes newspaper, he returned to New York to attend the Columbia Journalism School.

Green wrote many novels, the best known being The Last Angry Man, published in 1956. It was adapted into a movie by the same name which was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Muni) and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White. His other novels include His Majesty O'Keefe (co-authored with Lawrence Klingman), adapted into a 1954 film, North West, Portofino P.T.A., To Brooklyn with Love, My Son the Jock, The Lotus Eaters, and East and West. His 1962 novel Portofino P.T.A. was adapted into a musical, Something More!, by composer Sammy Fain and lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman.

He wrote the teleplay for Holocaust, a critically acclaimed 1978 TV miniseries that won eight Emmy Awards, including one for "Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series," and was credited with persuading the West German government to repeal the statute of limitations on Nazi war crimes. He later adapted the script into a novel of the same title. In recognition for this effort, Green was awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld International Peace Prize for literature, 1979. Green won another Emmy nomination for his 1985 TV script for Wallenberg: A Hero's Story. Green was also a writer, producer, and director for NBC News. In 1952, he co-created (with Dave Garroway) NBC's The Today Show.

Green lived in Stamford, Connecticut for twenty years and moved to New Canaan, Connecticut. His first wife, Marie, died of cancer. They had three children: Nancy, Ted and David. He married Marlene Eagle in 1979, becoming stepfather to Dr Janie Worth (Née Eagle), Julie Cardo (Née Eagle) and David Eagle. Green died of pneumonia in Norwalk, Connecticut on August 29, 2006.

Reviews

[Mary JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting historically novel, detailing three generations of the Chain family.

In 1910, the building containing the sweatshop where Jake Chain's wife works collapses. Several people are killed; Jake's wife Sarah is crippled. Jake, who was just a hired workman, suddenly becomes involved in the union movement. When the bosses hire roughnecks to intimidate the union, Jake fights force with force. He soon becomes a well known enforcer for the union. He soon finds he can make a lot of money in the enforcement business.

The second part of the book deals with Jake's only son, Morty. He becomes a bootlegger, and makes an immense forturne doing so. The amount of money that could be made in bootlegging astounded me. Prohibition was very unsuccessful; as many officals saw nothing wrong with illegal liquor and were easily bribed to look the other way when illegal booze was trucked in.

The third section of the book deals with Morty's son, Martin. When it became fairly obvious that Prohibition was to be repealed, Morty went into legitimate business--real esate; trucking; pharmaceuticals and so on. Marin has an excellent head for business, and become a powerful business typcoon.

There is a lot of action and suspense in the novel. Also, lots of interesting characters surrounding the Chain family and the historical details are well done.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction or multi-generation family sagas. It would be of special interest to those interested in the years between 1910 and 1960. There is enough historical detail to make it of interest to fans of regular history as well.

[BLRBrazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't be put off by the unalluring cover, as I might have been if it hadn't been missing from my 2nd hand copy.
The story is about the evolution over three generations of an extended Jewish family from Brooklyn, set against the backdrop of savage American capitalism and corrupt politics during the inter-war period of the 20thC. I found it fascinating to follow not just the exploits of the individuals concerned but also for its glimpse into a "3rd world" structure that many people find themselves trapped in today and fear will never change. Despite being a work of fiction, this book shows that things can change for the better, if there are courageous people of honour, with vision and intelligence, who can play the system to allow basic human decency to shine through.
The book also serves as a stark warning not to allow the country to slide back into those dark times, as the country's leaders today attempt to roll back all the regulation and social advances made since WWII, in the same of wealth creation (for the few) and efficiency.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. An awesome family saga in 3 parts; the union movement in the early 20th century, bootlegging in the 1920s and mid 20th century distillery business. I wasn’t always sure who I was supposed to root for as most were dishonest in one way or another but all were so interesting. An education for me on the history of unions and the particularly fascinating section about bootlegging; much more than I ever knew before. So much more widespread than I’d imagined and so.many.bribes!! A great book.