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Citizens
“A fine American novel—one of the best I ever read.” —Ernest Hemingway
THE PRICE OF PROGRESS
For Chicago physician, Mitch Wilner, July 4th, 1937, began as a typical holiday—a leisurely afternoon at the beach with his wife and young children. But by the end of the day, a peaceful protest erupts in violence, as unarmed steel mill strikers are attacked by the local police force, and Mitch is inadvertently thrust into the volatile heart of the Little Steel Strike.
In the days and months that follow, Mitch witnesses firsthand the aggressive strike-breaking tactics implemented by the steel mill companies, the staggering brutality of the authorities, and the blatant corruption of the local government and media. But in the unionists, Mitch discovers a bond that crosses ethnic, class, and racial boundaries, and truly embodies the spirit of the American dream.
Inspired by the grim events of Chicago’s historic Memorial Day Massacre, Citizens takes an unflinching look at some of the darkest days in modern U.S. labor history, and the long shadow they cast on subsequent labor movement and law. Mitch’s journey to understand and change the world around him will resound as clearly today as it did when Meyer Levin first published Citizens to great acclaim in 1940.
PRAISE
“One of the best American writers working in the realistic tradition.” —Norman Mailer
“[A] long, powerful, photographic novel.”—Kirkus Reviews
THE PRICE OF PROGRESS
For Chicago physician, Mitch Wilner, July 4th, 1937, began as a typical holiday—a leisurely afternoon at the beach with his wife and young children. But by the end of the day, a peaceful protest erupts in violence, as unarmed steel mill strikers are attacked by the local police force, and Mitch is inadvertently thrust into the volatile heart of the Little Steel Strike.
In the days and months that follow, Mitch witnesses firsthand the aggressive strike-breaking tactics implemented by the steel mill companies, the staggering brutality of the authorities, and the blatant corruption of the local government and media. But in the unionists, Mitch discovers a bond that crosses ethnic, class, and racial boundaries, and truly embodies the spirit of the American dream.
Inspired by the grim events of Chicago’s historic Memorial Day Massacre, Citizens takes an unflinching look at some of the darkest days in modern U.S. labor history, and the long shadow they cast on subsequent labor movement and law. Mitch’s journey to understand and change the world around him will resound as clearly today as it did when Meyer Levin first published Citizens to great acclaim in 1940.
PRAISE
“One of the best American writers working in the realistic tradition.” —Norman Mailer
“[A] long, powerful, photographic novel.”—Kirkus Reviews
650 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1940
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August 5, 2021
Had never heard of Citizens or Meyer Levin, but a good friend and reading buddy tipped me off Citizen’s was good and available on kindle at a bargain price. Then I saw the endorsement by Ernest Hemingway -not an everyday thing. This is great overlooked American novel.
Levin creates his novel from true events in the labor struggle centered in Chicago during the 20’s and 30’s. His story provides in great detail the lives and events preceding the Independence Day police massacre of ten people involved in the steel labor strike in 1937 (based on the real massacre which occurred Memorial Day 1937).
The people involved are fictional characters, the lead character, Dr. Mitch Wilner, is an interested observer to the July 4th protest, drawn in to perform emergency medical assistance to the victims of the police shooting, and then increasingly involved in the documentation of events and as a key expert witness.
Levin structures the novel by alternating Dr. Wilner’s increasing involvement and personal development, with stories of the individual victims, their background and story leading up to their death. In a methodical and scientific process, Wilner’s study of the people involved and causation of events leads him to an unavoidable conclusion that the truth is being obfuscated and hidden from public view. Also that the labor struggle while problematic and political flawed was clearly the right side to be on.
Citizens is American novel that is importantly prescient and relevant to the political and class issues of today. This book deserves a wide audience. I encourage you to read it.
Levin creates his novel from true events in the labor struggle centered in Chicago during the 20’s and 30’s. His story provides in great detail the lives and events preceding the Independence Day police massacre of ten people involved in the steel labor strike in 1937 (based on the real massacre which occurred Memorial Day 1937).
The people involved are fictional characters, the lead character, Dr. Mitch Wilner, is an interested observer to the July 4th protest, drawn in to perform emergency medical assistance to the victims of the police shooting, and then increasingly involved in the documentation of events and as a key expert witness.
Levin structures the novel by alternating Dr. Wilner’s increasing involvement and personal development, with stories of the individual victims, their background and story leading up to their death. In a methodical and scientific process, Wilner’s study of the people involved and causation of events leads him to an unavoidable conclusion that the truth is being obfuscated and hidden from public view. Also that the labor struggle while problematic and political flawed was clearly the right side to be on.
Citizens is American novel that is importantly prescient and relevant to the political and class issues of today. This book deserves a wide audience. I encourage you to read it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review