The Damndest Radical: The Life and World of Ben Reitman, Chicago's Celebrated Social Reformer, Hobo King, and Whorehouse Physician

by Roger A. Bruns

Roger A. Bruns's immensely entertaining biography, now available in paperback, throws a spotlight on a colorful, influential, but long-obscured Chicago character. This is the true story of Ben Reitman, ally of hobos, personal physician to scores of Al Capone's prostitutes, author, womanizer, founder of Chicago's Hobo College, and longtime lover of Emma Goldman.

Genres: Biography, History, Biography Memoir

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1986

About the author

Roger Bruns (b. 1941) is an author and the former deputy director for the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States.

Reviews

[Jeff Buddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, here's a shamefully out-of-print bio of Ben Reitman: Hobo King, Whorehouse Doctor, Social Reformer, and Emma Goldman's lover. He was a radical indeed, running in the underworld for much of his life. He's little known today, but he and his compatriots had much impact, bringing forward ideas well ahead of their time, ideas that wouldn't be addressed for decades and some that still need to be addressed: the right to birth control, social support for the poor, freedom of speech, etc&etc,

Despite his association with Emma Goldman, Ben was never really an Anarchist, though he found their basic philosophy agreeable. Ben agreed that society needed to be more just for all, that capital shouldn't make the rules, and that human freedoms shouldn't be restricted by an oppressive state. Ben's leanings were more of a do-what-thou-wilt variety than a political stance. If he wanted to get laid, he got laid. If he wanted to eat, he ate. If he wanted to hop a freight, he hopped a freight. No restrictions. He shook them all off.

Bruns's book brings Reitman so close to us, he's as likable in these pages as he must have been in life. More people need to know about Americans like this, those that contributed to the real fabric of this country, who consorted with hobos, crooks, prostitutes, tramps, bums, political outsiders...all essential stuff. Reitman's stance was that these were people moved by circumstance, not vice. They all had something to offer.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no expectations when starting this book because I had only learned about Ben Reitman while reading Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. Yet, when I found this biography in a used book store and got into it, I was so glad I made the effort. Not only is it a heartfelt biography of Reitman, the clap doctor, hobo, anarchist, birth control advocate, fighter for freedom of speech, and womanizer, but it is a history of the underbelly of America populated by hobos, prostitutes, drug addicts, starving artists, drifters, and criminals in the early decades of the twentieth century. I had never heard about the Hobo College, the Dill Pickle, Bughouse Square, the International Brotherhood Welfare Association, or the Industrial Workers of the World, how they helped the down and out, and tested the limits of free speech. I knew less about the people, like Reitman and Emma Goldman, who were so involved in that social reform movement. I have come away convinced that our schools do not teach about these important historical characters because they spoke up about unpleasant topics and were not widely admired by the powers that be at the time. Too bad. The work they did for the forgotten poor and downtrodden was immeasurable.