What do you think?
Rate this book
Chicago's Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City
From an acclaimed historian, the full and authoritative story of one of the most iconic disasters in American history, told through the vivid memories of those who experienced it
Between October 8–10, 1871, much of the city of Chicago was destroyed by one of the most legendary urban fires in history. Incorporated as a city in 1837, Chicago had grown at a breathtaking pace in barely three decades, from just over 4,000 in 1840 to greater than 330,000 at the time of the fire. Built hastily, the city was largely made of wood. Once it began in the barn of Catherine and Patrick O’Leary, the Fire quickly grew out of control, twice jumping branches of the Chicago River on its relentless northeastward path through the city’s three divisions. Close to one of every three Chicago residents was left homeless and more were instantly unemployed, though the death toll was miraculously low.
Remarkably, no carefully researched popular history of the Great Chicago Fire has been written until now, despite it being one of the most cataclysmic disasters in US history. Building the story around memorable characters, both known to history and unknown, including the likes of General Philip Sheridan and Robert Todd Lincoln, eminent Chicago historian Carl Smith chronicles the city’s rapid growth and place in America’s post-Civil War expansion. The dramatic story of the fire―revealing human nature in all its guises―became one of equally remarkable renewal, as Chicago quickly rose back up from the ashes thanks to local determination and the world’s generosity and faith in Chicago’s future.
As we approach the fire’s 150th anniversary, Carl Smith’s compelling narrative at last gives this epic event its full and proper place in our national chronicle.
Between October 8–10, 1871, much of the city of Chicago was destroyed by one of the most legendary urban fires in history. Incorporated as a city in 1837, Chicago had grown at a breathtaking pace in barely three decades, from just over 4,000 in 1840 to greater than 330,000 at the time of the fire. Built hastily, the city was largely made of wood. Once it began in the barn of Catherine and Patrick O’Leary, the Fire quickly grew out of control, twice jumping branches of the Chicago River on its relentless northeastward path through the city’s three divisions. Close to one of every three Chicago residents was left homeless and more were instantly unemployed, though the death toll was miraculously low.
Remarkably, no carefully researched popular history of the Great Chicago Fire has been written until now, despite it being one of the most cataclysmic disasters in US history. Building the story around memorable characters, both known to history and unknown, including the likes of General Philip Sheridan and Robert Todd Lincoln, eminent Chicago historian Carl Smith chronicles the city’s rapid growth and place in America’s post-Civil War expansion. The dramatic story of the fire―revealing human nature in all its guises―became one of equally remarkable renewal, as Chicago quickly rose back up from the ashes thanks to local determination and the world’s generosity and faith in Chicago’s future.
As we approach the fire’s 150th anniversary, Carl Smith’s compelling narrative at last gives this epic event its full and proper place in our national chronicle.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2020
151 people are currently reading
2386 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
December 13, 2020
A perfect well written book about the Chicago fire. It deals
with the fire itself, the aftermath and the progression the city went through after the fire. The narrative never becomes boring and the details keep the story moving forward. I recommend this book if you are looking for a nonfiction book to read this month.
with the fire itself, the aftermath and the progression the city went through after the fire. The narrative never becomes boring and the details keep the story moving forward. I recommend this book if you are looking for a nonfiction book to read this month.
December 24, 2020
The tale of Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicking over a lantern and causing the conflagration that destroyed the city of Chicago back in 1871 has become a part of urban legend and tall tales. But Carl Smith has taken that legend and searched through records to find out what truly may have happened.
On the night of the notorious fire, the volunteer firefighters were still recovering from dealing with a fire that took out 4 blocks just a couple of days previously. When the flames were discovered, locals raced to the citizen with a key to nearest alarm box which would be unlocked, the switch thrown and a telegraph pulse sent to the fire department notifying them of the location. Unfortunately, this box failed to send any signal and it was an 'eternity' before watchmen caught sight of the flames. Equally unfortunate, they didn't give the correct location and the volunteers were sent out in order to find a fire at the wrong location. Eventually the flames told everyone where the fire was.
That summer was hot and dry and with the small homes made of wood, sparks tossed by the winds drove north and eastward across the branches of the Chicago River into the downtown area and further into the northern prairies until it finally extinguished itself days later. Chicago wasn't the only location that was decimated by flames those days - in fact, the town of Pestigo, Wisconsin along with other nearby towns is still one of the deadliest fires in American history.
By the time to fire died down, 300 were dead with over 100,000 homeless and the flames did not distinguish between the poor and the wealthy. The military had taken over for the police department within the city limits and many of the volunteers were more "enthusiastic' about their position of authority. Demands of citizens returning home from work or from a local party often had encounters with the militia demanding identification. Sadly, one man returning from a party was actually shot and killed since he would not stop at a militia man's demand. The police were placed back in control soon afterwards.
The Chicago Relief and Aid Society - which demanded that they were the proper resource to distribute any and all funds and benefits to the displaced - were seemingly more interested in maintaining the previously held misconceptions regarding the poor, foreigners and keeping the current social order in place. Before any person not deemed wealthy enough or American enough or even white enough could receive any assistance, they were forced to submit to inspections of their living conditions - most were homeless - forced work/job acceptance along with numerous forms - many of the German, Scandinavian or even black were not educated to the level where they could write in English. There were suspicious qualifications that seemed to disqualify applicants before they even applied. References from 'notable' and acceptable individuals - clergy, employer, and prominent merchant - were also required.
But in turn, those forced jobs also rebuilt the Burnt Zone of Chicago. Tons of rubble was dumped in the lagoon between Michigan Avenue and the strip of land protecting the city from Lake Michigan. Chicago used the opportunity to re-built with the future in mind. They already knew the city was going to be prosperous and a gateway to the West - they were going to take advantage of the disaster.
They had a couple tries since there were several other fires - not of the extent that the 1871 devastated the city but eventually, it resulted in building standards and restrictions that allowed the city to grow . . . and grow. . . and grow to the second largest in the U.S. from the 1890's well into the late 20th century.
Mrs. O'Leary and her husband may have owned the property that their home and barn was on, the cow along with other farm animals were stabled there. She used the cow's milk to meet the needs of her family and the fire started either in the stable or nearby. Mrs. O'Leary was asleep at the time and it is suspected that it was a hot coal from someone's pipe landing on the dry straw that started it. In fact, she was exonerated from all blame regarding the fire in 1997 and it is the Robert Quinn Fire Academy - a center for training of firefighters - that was built on the O'Leary block in 1961.
The book actually ends on page 305, followed by 2 pages of acknowledgements and notes from pages 308-353. Finishing up with the index.
It is always interesting to dissect the legends and find the truth within. And the Chicago fire was one of those tall tale legends. It is sad though to read about the bias that the wealthy white men inflicted on the other residents of their home town. Not much has really changed in those decades, unfortunately, the bias is just 'hidden' a little better.
2020-253
On the night of the notorious fire, the volunteer firefighters were still recovering from dealing with a fire that took out 4 blocks just a couple of days previously. When the flames were discovered, locals raced to the citizen with a key to nearest alarm box which would be unlocked, the switch thrown and a telegraph pulse sent to the fire department notifying them of the location. Unfortunately, this box failed to send any signal and it was an 'eternity' before watchmen caught sight of the flames. Equally unfortunate, they didn't give the correct location and the volunteers were sent out in order to find a fire at the wrong location. Eventually the flames told everyone where the fire was.
That summer was hot and dry and with the small homes made of wood, sparks tossed by the winds drove north and eastward across the branches of the Chicago River into the downtown area and further into the northern prairies until it finally extinguished itself days later. Chicago wasn't the only location that was decimated by flames those days - in fact, the town of Pestigo, Wisconsin along with other nearby towns is still one of the deadliest fires in American history.
By the time to fire died down, 300 were dead with over 100,000 homeless and the flames did not distinguish between the poor and the wealthy. The military had taken over for the police department within the city limits and many of the volunteers were more "enthusiastic' about their position of authority. Demands of citizens returning home from work or from a local party often had encounters with the militia demanding identification. Sadly, one man returning from a party was actually shot and killed since he would not stop at a militia man's demand. The police were placed back in control soon afterwards.
The Chicago Relief and Aid Society - which demanded that they were the proper resource to distribute any and all funds and benefits to the displaced - were seemingly more interested in maintaining the previously held misconceptions regarding the poor, foreigners and keeping the current social order in place. Before any person not deemed wealthy enough or American enough or even white enough could receive any assistance, they were forced to submit to inspections of their living conditions - most were homeless - forced work/job acceptance along with numerous forms - many of the German, Scandinavian or even black were not educated to the level where they could write in English. There were suspicious qualifications that seemed to disqualify applicants before they even applied. References from 'notable' and acceptable individuals - clergy, employer, and prominent merchant - were also required.
But in turn, those forced jobs also rebuilt the Burnt Zone of Chicago. Tons of rubble was dumped in the lagoon between Michigan Avenue and the strip of land protecting the city from Lake Michigan. Chicago used the opportunity to re-built with the future in mind. They already knew the city was going to be prosperous and a gateway to the West - they were going to take advantage of the disaster.
They had a couple tries since there were several other fires - not of the extent that the 1871 devastated the city but eventually, it resulted in building standards and restrictions that allowed the city to grow . . . and grow. . . and grow to the second largest in the U.S. from the 1890's well into the late 20th century.
Mrs. O'Leary and her husband may have owned the property that their home and barn was on, the cow along with other farm animals were stabled there. She used the cow's milk to meet the needs of her family and the fire started either in the stable or nearby. Mrs. O'Leary was asleep at the time and it is suspected that it was a hot coal from someone's pipe landing on the dry straw that started it. In fact, she was exonerated from all blame regarding the fire in 1997 and it is the Robert Quinn Fire Academy - a center for training of firefighters - that was built on the O'Leary block in 1961.
The book actually ends on page 305, followed by 2 pages of acknowledgements and notes from pages 308-353. Finishing up with the index.
It is always interesting to dissect the legends and find the truth within. And the Chicago fire was one of those tall tale legends. It is sad though to read about the bias that the wealthy white men inflicted on the other residents of their home town. Not much has really changed in those decades, unfortunately, the bias is just 'hidden' a little better.
2020-253
June 7, 2021
This is an interesting account of the Great Fire pf Chicago, delivered primarily via a collection of firsthand accounts of the fire and its aftermath.
Though the fire itself is a legendary event in American history, I’m not sure that Chicago is a city whose history appeals to the masses as much as that of other major cities, which makes this book a bit of a tough sell for nonlocal readers.
None of that is the fault of Smith, who does an excellent and thorough job on his history of the fire, delivering a huge breadth of information with touches of humor and the anecdotal flourishes that are the hallmark of a good storyteller, even when the story is nonfiction.
Mrs O’Leary and her cow remain the most famous characters in the history of the fire, but their nebulous (and possibly completely innocent) role in it leaves us without real answers as to how it started. This is one of the more frustrating aspects of reading about this mystery that will never truly be solved.
That means the best of this book is in the details, from firsthand accounts of survivors regarding where they went after being displaced and what they tried to save to the architectural aftermath of such an event.
There are a few slow segments of the book that have more information than we probably need on some aspect of the topic (the aid society chapters seemed to go on endlessly and probably only merited a few pages worth of interest), though I can’t entirely fault an author for what is likely an attempt to be complete and thorough.
In all, I enjoyed Smith’s style and tone and likely would have enjoyed it even more were he writing about a different topic.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Though the fire itself is a legendary event in American history, I’m not sure that Chicago is a city whose history appeals to the masses as much as that of other major cities, which makes this book a bit of a tough sell for nonlocal readers.
None of that is the fault of Smith, who does an excellent and thorough job on his history of the fire, delivering a huge breadth of information with touches of humor and the anecdotal flourishes that are the hallmark of a good storyteller, even when the story is nonfiction.
Mrs O’Leary and her cow remain the most famous characters in the history of the fire, but their nebulous (and possibly completely innocent) role in it leaves us without real answers as to how it started. This is one of the more frustrating aspects of reading about this mystery that will never truly be solved.
That means the best of this book is in the details, from firsthand accounts of survivors regarding where they went after being displaced and what they tried to save to the architectural aftermath of such an event.
There are a few slow segments of the book that have more information than we probably need on some aspect of the topic (the aid society chapters seemed to go on endlessly and probably only merited a few pages worth of interest), though I can’t entirely fault an author for what is likely an attempt to be complete and thorough.
In all, I enjoyed Smith’s style and tone and likely would have enjoyed it even more were he writing about a different topic.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
February 2, 2021
Don’t ask how I developed an interest in Chicago, its Great Fire, and the later World’s Fair, because I won’t have an answer for you. I’ve not even been to Chicago unless you count being at O’Hare Airport for flight transfers. I’ve only seen downtown from the air. It might’ve been the story of an infamous murderer doing his deeds during the 1893 World’s Fair that got me started. From there, I would’ve looked at the event, and then back to the Great Fire 22 years earlier. The Fair was a way to promote Chicago’s grandeur and rebuilding after the fire. It was a phoenix, rising from the ashes. The preface from this recent release about the fire goes as far as stating that, with hindsight, it was a good thing that the city burned.
From that interesting beginning, we then get a brief look at Chicago’s history and the reasons for its growth. As they say in the real estate market, “Location, location, location!” Westward expansion and the improvement of the railroad system meant that Chicago was ideally placed. It was almost a straight shot from New York City, and its proximity to Lake Michigan was also an advantage. Migrants flocked to the city from not only within the United States, but also from countries such as Ireland, Italy, and Poland. The result was a heavy mix of poor and wealthy, along with equally varied constructs of living accommodation. It probably isn’t a surprise that the fire began in one of the poorer parts of the city.
But Chicago’s Great Fire isn’t only a historical guide to the event. Yes, we get a narrative of when the fire started, how the authorities were (or in some cases weren’t) notified of its spread, and how long it lasted. We also get descriptions of the people fleeing, how they took care of their belongings, who went where to escape, and how the citizens looked to recover. Northwestern University Professor Carl Smith makes use of maps, photographs, and lithographs, as well as journal entries and newspaper reports. He analyzes the various relief efforts, looking at how they were organized and the criteria by which they went when releasing funds and other, non-monetary, forms of assistance. We see how the telegraph enabled word of the disaster to spread around the world. Communities in other states and countries sent charitable contributions as a result. There is an extensive look at the rebuilding of the city, and an analysis of how the fire contributed to a migration of wealthier Chicagoans from the city center to newer suburbs. Lastly, there is a section on the much-maligned Catherine O’Leary. Did her cow really kick over a lantern, or was it merely a scapegoat?
When the phrase “great fire” is mentioned to me, my mind immediately turns to the Great Fire of London in 1666. Having read this book, I now feel I know more about the fire of Chicago than of the one in the city of my birth. Professor Smith’s book is a great resource and I found it easy to read. When I finally get to visit the Windy City, this is a book I would consider purchasing and having on my shelf as a reference to this historic event.
Disclaimer: Although I received a copy of the Uncorrected Proof of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, the words and opinions above are my own.
From that interesting beginning, we then get a brief look at Chicago’s history and the reasons for its growth. As they say in the real estate market, “Location, location, location!” Westward expansion and the improvement of the railroad system meant that Chicago was ideally placed. It was almost a straight shot from New York City, and its proximity to Lake Michigan was also an advantage. Migrants flocked to the city from not only within the United States, but also from countries such as Ireland, Italy, and Poland. The result was a heavy mix of poor and wealthy, along with equally varied constructs of living accommodation. It probably isn’t a surprise that the fire began in one of the poorer parts of the city.
But Chicago’s Great Fire isn’t only a historical guide to the event. Yes, we get a narrative of when the fire started, how the authorities were (or in some cases weren’t) notified of its spread, and how long it lasted. We also get descriptions of the people fleeing, how they took care of their belongings, who went where to escape, and how the citizens looked to recover. Northwestern University Professor Carl Smith makes use of maps, photographs, and lithographs, as well as journal entries and newspaper reports. He analyzes the various relief efforts, looking at how they were organized and the criteria by which they went when releasing funds and other, non-monetary, forms of assistance. We see how the telegraph enabled word of the disaster to spread around the world. Communities in other states and countries sent charitable contributions as a result. There is an extensive look at the rebuilding of the city, and an analysis of how the fire contributed to a migration of wealthier Chicagoans from the city center to newer suburbs. Lastly, there is a section on the much-maligned Catherine O’Leary. Did her cow really kick over a lantern, or was it merely a scapegoat?
When the phrase “great fire” is mentioned to me, my mind immediately turns to the Great Fire of London in 1666. Having read this book, I now feel I know more about the fire of Chicago than of the one in the city of my birth. Professor Smith’s book is a great resource and I found it easy to read. When I finally get to visit the Windy City, this is a book I would consider purchasing and having on my shelf as a reference to this historic event.
Disclaimer: Although I received a copy of the Uncorrected Proof of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, the words and opinions above are my own.
January 25, 2023
I have my husband to thank for me reading this book. Casually one night with some family, the myth of how Chicago's Great Fire was started by a cow knocking over a lantern was mentioned and I was like, "huh?" I had never heard of it. I mentioned off the cuff that I would love to read that story of how it happened if there were a book about it. After reading "Devil in the White City" I've been kind of fascinated with Chicago history.
Two days later this book showed up at my house and I have to say, I really enjoyed reading it. For the record, nobody really knows what started the fire, only where it started and at the same time that fire was going on, two other fires were happening in nearby states! I learned a lot about the people of the time period, who had immigrated to Chicago and what the public works setup was like for such a populated city and it is no wonder that they had such a struggle containing the fire as well as the rebuild.
Why this hasn't been made into a movie is beyond me! It's not a page turning book - there are a lot of facts, people's names to keep straight, and history to read through and so it wasn't a book I wanted to read every night because of how heavy minded it could be, but truly a fascinating account of a how a fire wrecked havoc over an entire city, how so many came together to help each other out, and then what an immense process it was to simply begin to rebuild - how political it can all be.
Such a great read for anyone wanting something a little bit different to read when it comes to American history.
Two days later this book showed up at my house and I have to say, I really enjoyed reading it. For the record, nobody really knows what started the fire, only where it started and at the same time that fire was going on, two other fires were happening in nearby states! I learned a lot about the people of the time period, who had immigrated to Chicago and what the public works setup was like for such a populated city and it is no wonder that they had such a struggle containing the fire as well as the rebuild.
Why this hasn't been made into a movie is beyond me! It's not a page turning book - there are a lot of facts, people's names to keep straight, and history to read through and so it wasn't a book I wanted to read every night because of how heavy minded it could be, but truly a fascinating account of a how a fire wrecked havoc over an entire city, how so many came together to help each other out, and then what an immense process it was to simply begin to rebuild - how political it can all be.
Such a great read for anyone wanting something a little bit different to read when it comes to American history.
May 18, 2021
I have read a few books about the Chicago fire so I knew a little about what happened, the speculations of how it happened and some of outcomes. I did learn some new information, has a few background stories that I have not heard or read about and seeing the pictures of the fire’s destruction was well worth the read. The fire story itself is only in a few chapters and the rest is about what happened after with the investigation and to the survivors. I am only giving it two stars because it is so dry to read and overpowering with unnecessary information that it drags.
December 18, 2020
Rather than a comedy of errors, it was a tragedy of errors that caused the Great Chicago Fire, in October of 1871. The weather, the lax building codes, the use of wood for streets, the reluctance of the mayor to spend money on firefighting upgrades, and sending fire crews to an incorrect address were among the larger errors. There is a mixture of personal family histories and ethnic background compiled in this book. Most of the early details are about famous individuals and buildings that were ruined in Chicago. The second part of the book focused on statistics, donations, and rebuilding of central Chicago. Yes, the O’Leary family is in the book, but the cause is not attributed to Mrs. O’Leary’s cow.
October 4, 2020
A well presented book, I knew a bit about Chicago’s great fire from documentaries and self learning, but this book really did teach me a lot I didn’t know, it was well written, it really did keep you interested and included maps and great photographs, cuttings that make the book even more interesting, a fantastic historical guide
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
January 7, 2025
idk this did not draw me in. the pictures sure did so i can't figure out what about the writing didn't.
December 11, 2020
Review of Chicago's Great Fire
Carl Smith's upcoming Chicago's Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City is an exhaustively researched and skilfully woven tale of one of the most popular conflagrations of recent history. In this volume, Smith demonstrates an attention to detail that conveys the individual stories of a wide swath of the citizens and significant players in this tragedy. One is reminded of Tyler Anbinder's equally in-depth study of the Five Points in New York. However, the latter details a more extensive period and as a result develops a more segmented systematic delivery.
In Chicago, Smith focusses on the night of the fire and the subsequent days and months, gradually spinning out the fallout and aftermath up to the modern-day. There is a sliding dedication to detail through the years which is well handled, appropriate and appreciated. Definitely exhaustive in detail based on substantiating research, the author pulls out the strands of individuals' experience during and after the fire and maintains an engaging narrative throughout.
I am a little unsure about how the final product will be delivered in terms of chapterisation. This is not a small undertaking. It is an extensive and deep coverage of conflagration and rebirth, touching on social-economic, political and environmental factors. There is a lot here and that calls for particularly attentive segmentation to carry along the reader and keep them appraised of their position in the tale. If anything might detract from the excellent effort, I would hope that the book will provide some good framing themes to carry the story along. There are many characters and institutions introduced and followed, and keeping track will always be a challenge. Thankfully we get to know some people through period photographs. As we move further into the book, there is a seemingly implied structure of civic government, and non-governmental organisations, or less explicit themes relating to initiatives or specific periods definitely challenge readers' attention. I had a sense that much was asked of the reader to recall what was introduced at the outset of the book. Perhaps more specific headings or subheadings would have helped me keep on track. I guess I was looking for more roadsigns, but maybe I am not the intended audience. Discussing ranges from various institutions and organisations such as the Relief Agency and the civil government response or the use of the military and the appointment of General Sheridan as military commandant of the city in the immediate aftermath demands some careful framing and structure. What do specific chapters relate to? Again in this advance copy, there are 16 numbered chapters with memorable quotes or turns of phrase. Still, as a reader, I am slightly confused by the chapter divisions. There could be a temporal approach strictly based on a chronological progression logically constructed, or even a more thematic one relating to specific organisation or social issues or particular issues surrounding an area of memory or commemoration or reaction to the event and subsequent repercussions. There seems to be a combination of chapter foci with slightly ambiguous extent. Nonetheless, the collection of chapters come together in an engagingly well-delivered work.
The introduction frames the subsequent tale well, particularly noting that there is a division between the specific happenings and how these were both remembered and commentated. Likewise, we are nudged to look out for the various larger overarching patterns of progression, such as the gradual recognition that the fire resulted in the process of renewal. The promises of the introduction are delivered. The extended conclusion creatively draws together the eventual tales of the built environment along with the various individuals subsequent lives. Finally asking the big question: what actually caused the fire and why do most to this day still think it was Kate O'Leary's cow? The use of this question exposes many aspects of the broader narrative such as class divisions, ethnicity and local cabals.
Unfortunately, the advance copy I received as a locked PDF did not display what I perceive is goodly collection of local maps showing the sites being discussed throughout the tale. Although disappointed, I think these are necessary and valuable complete to the textual narrative. There are copious photos that are well-chosen and thankfully did show up on my device.
I received an advance copy of the excellent book in exchange for an honest review. Chicago's Great Fire is scheduled to be published 6 October 2020.
Carl Smith's upcoming Chicago's Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City is an exhaustively researched and skilfully woven tale of one of the most popular conflagrations of recent history. In this volume, Smith demonstrates an attention to detail that conveys the individual stories of a wide swath of the citizens and significant players in this tragedy. One is reminded of Tyler Anbinder's equally in-depth study of the Five Points in New York. However, the latter details a more extensive period and as a result develops a more segmented systematic delivery.
In Chicago, Smith focusses on the night of the fire and the subsequent days and months, gradually spinning out the fallout and aftermath up to the modern-day. There is a sliding dedication to detail through the years which is well handled, appropriate and appreciated. Definitely exhaustive in detail based on substantiating research, the author pulls out the strands of individuals' experience during and after the fire and maintains an engaging narrative throughout.
I am a little unsure about how the final product will be delivered in terms of chapterisation. This is not a small undertaking. It is an extensive and deep coverage of conflagration and rebirth, touching on social-economic, political and environmental factors. There is a lot here and that calls for particularly attentive segmentation to carry along the reader and keep them appraised of their position in the tale. If anything might detract from the excellent effort, I would hope that the book will provide some good framing themes to carry the story along. There are many characters and institutions introduced and followed, and keeping track will always be a challenge. Thankfully we get to know some people through period photographs. As we move further into the book, there is a seemingly implied structure of civic government, and non-governmental organisations, or less explicit themes relating to initiatives or specific periods definitely challenge readers' attention. I had a sense that much was asked of the reader to recall what was introduced at the outset of the book. Perhaps more specific headings or subheadings would have helped me keep on track. I guess I was looking for more roadsigns, but maybe I am not the intended audience. Discussing ranges from various institutions and organisations such as the Relief Agency and the civil government response or the use of the military and the appointment of General Sheridan as military commandant of the city in the immediate aftermath demands some careful framing and structure. What do specific chapters relate to? Again in this advance copy, there are 16 numbered chapters with memorable quotes or turns of phrase. Still, as a reader, I am slightly confused by the chapter divisions. There could be a temporal approach strictly based on a chronological progression logically constructed, or even a more thematic one relating to specific organisation or social issues or particular issues surrounding an area of memory or commemoration or reaction to the event and subsequent repercussions. There seems to be a combination of chapter foci with slightly ambiguous extent. Nonetheless, the collection of chapters come together in an engagingly well-delivered work.
The introduction frames the subsequent tale well, particularly noting that there is a division between the specific happenings and how these were both remembered and commentated. Likewise, we are nudged to look out for the various larger overarching patterns of progression, such as the gradual recognition that the fire resulted in the process of renewal. The promises of the introduction are delivered. The extended conclusion creatively draws together the eventual tales of the built environment along with the various individuals subsequent lives. Finally asking the big question: what actually caused the fire and why do most to this day still think it was Kate O'Leary's cow? The use of this question exposes many aspects of the broader narrative such as class divisions, ethnicity and local cabals.
Unfortunately, the advance copy I received as a locked PDF did not display what I perceive is goodly collection of local maps showing the sites being discussed throughout the tale. Although disappointed, I think these are necessary and valuable complete to the textual narrative. There are copious photos that are well-chosen and thankfully did show up on my device.
I received an advance copy of the excellent book in exchange for an honest review. Chicago's Great Fire is scheduled to be published 6 October 2020.
February 11, 2022
An interesting well researched and constructed book with good illustrations, maps and photos.
June 15, 2020
Having parents born in Chicago with many family members and friends still there, I had to request to read this. I knew a little bit about the devastating fire but it was nice to learn more in depth what happened. I ,made many highlights for future reading pertaining to the fire including newspaper articles and scholarly documents, all these were appreciated. I am definitely looking forward to continued reading about this event in Chicago's history.
The book itself? It is all about the details and stories, and there were many. This was a great historical piece of writing and should be read by anyone interested about Chicago and the state of Illinois. I love how the city was described before the fire and all the time and years it took to rebuild the city to the flourishing metropolis it is. It s a story of rebirth and growth after a tragedy. The accompanying pictures throughout the book gave much insight during that time. Glad my kindle has color!
A must read and am excited when this is published because I want a hard cover edition to add to my library. Thanks to Netgalley, Carl Smith and Atlantic Monthly Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 10/16/20
The book itself? It is all about the details and stories, and there were many. This was a great historical piece of writing and should be read by anyone interested about Chicago and the state of Illinois. I love how the city was described before the fire and all the time and years it took to rebuild the city to the flourishing metropolis it is. It s a story of rebirth and growth after a tragedy. The accompanying pictures throughout the book gave much insight during that time. Glad my kindle has color!
A must read and am excited when this is published because I want a hard cover edition to add to my library. Thanks to Netgalley, Carl Smith and Atlantic Monthly Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 10/16/20
October 6, 2021
No, Mrs. O'Leary's cow did not cause the Great Chicago Fire. Or did she? Truth is, no one really knows. But it probably was not a cow kicking over a lantern. Probably.
Anyways, this was about a complete a history as you could hope for of the fire, its aftermath, and Chicago's efforts to rebuild. The book spends only a short time on the fire itself -- but with tons of helpful maps and personal anecdotes of Chicagoans fleeing the fire and trying to save themselves and their livelihoods. The aftermath is the bulk of the book, and Smith delves into the fraught period of martial law administered by Civil War hero General Sheridan directly after the fire, the fight over stricter fire codes, and the contentious politics and methods of aid distribution soon after the fire.
Required reading for all Chicagoans, but quick and interesting enough to have more universal appeal.
Anyways, this was about a complete a history as you could hope for of the fire, its aftermath, and Chicago's efforts to rebuild. The book spends only a short time on the fire itself -- but with tons of helpful maps and personal anecdotes of Chicagoans fleeing the fire and trying to save themselves and their livelihoods. The aftermath is the bulk of the book, and Smith delves into the fraught period of martial law administered by Civil War hero General Sheridan directly after the fire, the fight over stricter fire codes, and the contentious politics and methods of aid distribution soon after the fire.
Required reading for all Chicagoans, but quick and interesting enough to have more universal appeal.
July 28, 2022
The chronicling of Chicago’s Great Fire, which consumed much of the city in 1871, is a task expertly undertaken by author Carl Smith. Not only does Smith tell the story of this incredibly destructive inferno, but the book’s pages also contain ample details about the contemporary social environment and the efforts to rebuild from the incident.
At the start of the 1870s, nearly half of Chicago’s population consisted of immigrants; one in five of its residents was of Germanic descent. It was a rapidly growing city which brought together everything from meatpacking to transportation, largely via the up and coming railroad industry.
The social divisions revealed by the fire, with the Irish bearing a disproportionate amount of unfair blame, are examined in Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City. The breadth of destruction wrought by and pure hell experienced by those fighting the “fire fiend,” as some at the time described it, earned it comparisons to battles in a country not a decade removed from the ravages of a civil war. The night of October 8th into the morning of the 9th, 1871, was seared into the collective memories of Chicagoans for decades after the horrific blaze.
The place Chicago had been earning in the newly reunited nation’s heart as a critical non coastal component of economic and social vitality resulted in a tremendous fire-related irony. On the same day, the Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin actually resulted in more loss of a life; not only was the all-too-frequent nature of fires revealed by this, but Chicago’s place in the hearts and minds of Americans was made evident as well. The Windy City had a death toll in the mid to low hundreds, while the Peshtigo one (although it had much less property to destroy) had at least four to five times that amount.
Unconventional efforts to staunch the fire’s flow were undertaken alongside the fire department's desperate attempt to gain the upper hand; James H. Hildreth’s attempt to place gunpowder in the way of the flames was one such attempt.
The destruction in terms of property was appalling, and even the original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation went up in flames (although a Gettysburg painting was rescued before it too could be destroyed).
The book talks about the controversial experience of Civil war hero Philip Sheridan’s time as head of the city’s security in the fire’s immediate aftermath. His heavy handed tactics, which could be compared to those employed by General Andrew Jackson’s after the New Orleans, earned criticism in some local quarters. Decisions made by Mayor Roswell H. Mason, including the appointment of Sheridan and the empowering of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society to grant post-fire help, are analyzed well by Smith.
The Chicago mayor was undoubtedly put in an unenviable position thanks to the fire, especially when readers are informed that only fifty percent of the property loss from the fire was insured, while 68 of 201 companies insuring property were said to have failed as a result of the disaster.
Joseph H. Medill, who was the editor of the Chicago Tribune when the fire broke out, was elected the new mayor barely a month after the fire. That this election even went forward was a testament to the city’s rapid recovery, a swift turnaround which W.A. Croffett was said to have been shocked by. Medill’s compatriot at the paper, Horace White, also looms large in Chicago Fire’s pages. There are a number of cameos put in by well-known figures of the era, including Robert Todd Lincoln and President Lincoln’s former secretary John Hay, who arrived in town after the fire to catalog firsthand tales of Chicago’s recovery.
J. Young Scammon is one of the many local Chicagoans who features in the analysis of how the reaction to the fire unfolded. The initial blame for the fire went to the O’Learys, an Irish family whose cow was blamed for kicking over a lamp which allegedly started the fire. The O’Learys were not “officially” cleared until 1999, and the book makes clear they were almost certainly not to blame for the fire’s breakout. The ability of rumors to take root and adopt the appearance of truth combined with the default position of native Chicagoans to blame the Irish for any and all things negative ensured the story of Catherine O’Leary’s cow had well over a century’s worth of staying power.
Although the city did an admirable job bouncing back in the fire’s immediate aftermath, the 1873 economic depression did no favors in helping the city get fully back on its feet. In 1874, a smaller fire hit Chicago whose destruction was limited due to post-Great Fire reforms which had been put in place. The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 was said to have showcased just how far Chicago had come from the depths of the frightening immediate post fire days.
The nationwide outpouring of support for Chicago, undiscovered by Pastor Henry Ward Beecher’s pulpit exhortation to praise the city’s spirit, was detailed by Smith. The days and weeks after the fire take up close to half of the book, with the investigation into the fire department (the firefighters were largely cleared of accusations of drunkenness on duty and taking bribes to protect select property) and debates over how aid was doled out to hurting and dislocated families.
Carl Smith's pacing is commendable, and his command of the facts blends with a talent for humanizing them to avoid dryness. Readers will come away really feeling like they lived through the fire and the difficulties it caused. It is deserving of four stars and is deeply informative regarding the social and economic factors contemporaneously at play at the time the fire fiend his the city of Chicago.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
At the start of the 1870s, nearly half of Chicago’s population consisted of immigrants; one in five of its residents was of Germanic descent. It was a rapidly growing city which brought together everything from meatpacking to transportation, largely via the up and coming railroad industry.
The social divisions revealed by the fire, with the Irish bearing a disproportionate amount of unfair blame, are examined in Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City. The breadth of destruction wrought by and pure hell experienced by those fighting the “fire fiend,” as some at the time described it, earned it comparisons to battles in a country not a decade removed from the ravages of a civil war. The night of October 8th into the morning of the 9th, 1871, was seared into the collective memories of Chicagoans for decades after the horrific blaze.
The place Chicago had been earning in the newly reunited nation’s heart as a critical non coastal component of economic and social vitality resulted in a tremendous fire-related irony. On the same day, the Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin actually resulted in more loss of a life; not only was the all-too-frequent nature of fires revealed by this, but Chicago’s place in the hearts and minds of Americans was made evident as well. The Windy City had a death toll in the mid to low hundreds, while the Peshtigo one (although it had much less property to destroy) had at least four to five times that amount.
Unconventional efforts to staunch the fire’s flow were undertaken alongside the fire department's desperate attempt to gain the upper hand; James H. Hildreth’s attempt to place gunpowder in the way of the flames was one such attempt.
The destruction in terms of property was appalling, and even the original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation went up in flames (although a Gettysburg painting was rescued before it too could be destroyed).
The book talks about the controversial experience of Civil war hero Philip Sheridan’s time as head of the city’s security in the fire’s immediate aftermath. His heavy handed tactics, which could be compared to those employed by General Andrew Jackson’s after the New Orleans, earned criticism in some local quarters. Decisions made by Mayor Roswell H. Mason, including the appointment of Sheridan and the empowering of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society to grant post-fire help, are analyzed well by Smith.
The Chicago mayor was undoubtedly put in an unenviable position thanks to the fire, especially when readers are informed that only fifty percent of the property loss from the fire was insured, while 68 of 201 companies insuring property were said to have failed as a result of the disaster.
Joseph H. Medill, who was the editor of the Chicago Tribune when the fire broke out, was elected the new mayor barely a month after the fire. That this election even went forward was a testament to the city’s rapid recovery, a swift turnaround which W.A. Croffett was said to have been shocked by. Medill’s compatriot at the paper, Horace White, also looms large in Chicago Fire’s pages. There are a number of cameos put in by well-known figures of the era, including Robert Todd Lincoln and President Lincoln’s former secretary John Hay, who arrived in town after the fire to catalog firsthand tales of Chicago’s recovery.
J. Young Scammon is one of the many local Chicagoans who features in the analysis of how the reaction to the fire unfolded. The initial blame for the fire went to the O’Learys, an Irish family whose cow was blamed for kicking over a lamp which allegedly started the fire. The O’Learys were not “officially” cleared until 1999, and the book makes clear they were almost certainly not to blame for the fire’s breakout. The ability of rumors to take root and adopt the appearance of truth combined with the default position of native Chicagoans to blame the Irish for any and all things negative ensured the story of Catherine O’Leary’s cow had well over a century’s worth of staying power.
Although the city did an admirable job bouncing back in the fire’s immediate aftermath, the 1873 economic depression did no favors in helping the city get fully back on its feet. In 1874, a smaller fire hit Chicago whose destruction was limited due to post-Great Fire reforms which had been put in place. The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 was said to have showcased just how far Chicago had come from the depths of the frightening immediate post fire days.
The nationwide outpouring of support for Chicago, undiscovered by Pastor Henry Ward Beecher’s pulpit exhortation to praise the city’s spirit, was detailed by Smith. The days and weeks after the fire take up close to half of the book, with the investigation into the fire department (the firefighters were largely cleared of accusations of drunkenness on duty and taking bribes to protect select property) and debates over how aid was doled out to hurting and dislocated families.
Carl Smith's pacing is commendable, and his command of the facts blends with a talent for humanizing them to avoid dryness. Readers will come away really feeling like they lived through the fire and the difficulties it caused. It is deserving of four stars and is deeply informative regarding the social and economic factors contemporaneously at play at the time the fire fiend his the city of Chicago.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
November 23, 2023
A fascinating and enthralling account of how America's "Windy City" faced destruction by fire in early October of 1871. More importantly, the author details the heroic efforts of those in power to restore the mighty city of Chicago following this incredible catastrophe.
September 2, 2021
We've all heard the story of the O'Leary cow kicking over the lantern and causing the fire that wiped out much of Chicago, but we never heard the back story of it, the circumstances that led to the disaster, the mistaking of the smoke from the fire early on, the plight of those trapped in the fire, the widespread help from the country and the rebuilding of the great Midwestern city.
At times, parts about families traveling north to flee the flames get repetitious. There's a lot of people crossing bridges, seeing burning embers, hauling possessions in wheelbarrows and the general malady that followed. But all those nuggets show Carl Smith's skill in researching the event.
There were so many things that added to the disaster - a large warehouse full of lumber beside the O'Leary land, a coal plant nearby, the fact that a fire a day ago was still smoldering, giving firemen the thought that the O'Leary fire was just the dying remnants of that fire. Also, the dry conditions and the prevailing winds were noted. An interesting point: Smith showed a drawing of the fire in a magazine that had the flames going the wrong direction. Details like that make this an interesting read.
He also writes about the suspected causes of the fire and doesn't fall prey to the cow theory.
The book also contains a lot of drawings, photographs and maps. It's interesting to read about the Chicago of 1871 and compare it to today. Look on a Google map of Chicago, zoom down to DeKoven and South Clinton St. where the fire began is is home to the Chicago's Quinn Fire Academy now. Just north juts the Sears Tower in the view of today. It's an interesting perspective to see the city now and realize much of it was charred 140 years ago.
At times, parts about families traveling north to flee the flames get repetitious. There's a lot of people crossing bridges, seeing burning embers, hauling possessions in wheelbarrows and the general malady that followed. But all those nuggets show Carl Smith's skill in researching the event.
There were so many things that added to the disaster - a large warehouse full of lumber beside the O'Leary land, a coal plant nearby, the fact that a fire a day ago was still smoldering, giving firemen the thought that the O'Leary fire was just the dying remnants of that fire. Also, the dry conditions and the prevailing winds were noted. An interesting point: Smith showed a drawing of the fire in a magazine that had the flames going the wrong direction. Details like that make this an interesting read.
He also writes about the suspected causes of the fire and doesn't fall prey to the cow theory.
The book also contains a lot of drawings, photographs and maps. It's interesting to read about the Chicago of 1871 and compare it to today. Look on a Google map of Chicago, zoom down to DeKoven and South Clinton St. where the fire began is is home to the Chicago's Quinn Fire Academy now. Just north juts the Sears Tower in the view of today. It's an interesting perspective to see the city now and realize much of it was charred 140 years ago.
January 25, 2024
Many a time I have put aside this book to pursue other books of fictional distraction I have finally finished. Not a negative about the book but just something I find better consumed in portions. A well researched and assembled history of the great fire of 1871. Not only of the fire as it progressed block by block and over the Chicago River but also pre-fire society and conditions ( growth and cheaper wooden housing for workers, fire department organization and capabilities ). The book is detailed in its documented accounts of the population, rich and poor, fleeing the fire and the toll it took on wooden and masonry buildings as it consumed a bustling and commercial center on the Great Lakes. The book also extensively goes into the politics ( this is Chicago ) of the post fire period and reconstruction policies of building restrictions ( an economic limitation for workers who owned the charred land but could not afford a stone structure ) and conflicts with the designated charity restrictions to provide food and help for the victims. At the time there was friction between classes of immigrants and established citizens and rich and poor but like recent 9-11 there was also a common cause that pulled all the classes together to recover during and shortly thereafter. The book also notes the Peshtigo, WI firestorm of the same night in November that claimed an estimated 1,500. Many times Chicago's toll. The book cites other fires in decades ahead across the nation would result in city fires that have lead to better building codes and fire departments. There are maps/historic photos but as a non-Chicago native I would have appreciated more maps and landmark photos to be interspersed to provide more of a visual summary in my mind.
August 28, 2023
The venn diagram for an out of control fire would include the three circles 'dry conditions', 'abundant fuel' and 'strong winds' with strong winds being probably the biggest factor. All 3 conditions existed October 8, 1871 in Chicago and elsewhere in the Great Lakes area where there were numerous fires that night. To underscore what an unstoppable force fire can be, in the book there's a quote by Chicago's fire marshal saying something to the effect of "even if all the firefighters in the world were in Chicago that night they wouldn't have stopped the fire." And in my own personal experience of living through wildfires in California it is true. I was on a post-fire debris flow assessment in the Sierra Nevada foothills a few years back when we came upon a burnt house. The Calfire captain looked at how well the owner had previously cleared vegetation 200 feet around the house and said "when it comes to a firestorm with strong winds it makes no difference how much vegetation is cleared, this house was doomed"
This book is well researched and written but it was probably 100+ pages longer than it should have been with a lot of ink spent on the politics, personalities and policies that came about over the next three years after the fire. I found that part of the book a little dull but overall I would recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about the Great Chicago Fire.
This book is well researched and written but it was probably 100+ pages longer than it should have been with a lot of ink spent on the politics, personalities and policies that came about over the next three years after the fire. I found that part of the book a little dull but overall I would recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about the Great Chicago Fire.
January 5, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The cover caught my eye while I was transiting through Chicago's O'Hare airport last summer, and I luckily found a copy at my local used book store the next week. I finished it today.
In my non-reading time I am an urban firefighter/paramedic and emergency manager that got my start fighting wildland fires. I was surprised and fascinated to find similarities to these disciplines within the book.
The description of a large, wind-driven conflagration with ember wash igniting structures far ahead of the leading edge of main body of the fire is something I have observed in the Rocky Mountains while serving as a wildland firefighter that I describe in my own memoir. To read about the same fire conditions occurring in downtown Chicago was quite a surprise for me.
Furthermore, the lengthy description of the fire's aftermath, roughly 2/3 of the book, also provides an insightful look at initial disaster response and recovery that is very similar to issues that exist in the present. Housing/sheltering, medical care, donations management, building codes & standards, as well as hazard migration are large parts of contemporary emergency management, and I was again surprised to read about these same issues persisting over a century ago.
A quick, insightful, and enlightening read. I enjoyed it.
In my non-reading time I am an urban firefighter/paramedic and emergency manager that got my start fighting wildland fires. I was surprised and fascinated to find similarities to these disciplines within the book.
The description of a large, wind-driven conflagration with ember wash igniting structures far ahead of the leading edge of main body of the fire is something I have observed in the Rocky Mountains while serving as a wildland firefighter that I describe in my own memoir. To read about the same fire conditions occurring in downtown Chicago was quite a surprise for me.
Furthermore, the lengthy description of the fire's aftermath, roughly 2/3 of the book, also provides an insightful look at initial disaster response and recovery that is very similar to issues that exist in the present. Housing/sheltering, medical care, donations management, building codes & standards, as well as hazard migration are large parts of contemporary emergency management, and I was again surprised to read about these same issues persisting over a century ago.
A quick, insightful, and enlightening read. I enjoyed it.
October 16, 2020
Carl Smith has written a very extensive history of the fire that destroyed a large part of Chicago back in 1871. He wrote about the origin of the fire and how many escaped the conflagration, which made this story come alive even more. And the story didn't end there.
Mr. Smith writes about the relief efforts and the generosity of the many people, US cities and countries that raised money and donations of food and clothing for the people of Chicago who lost their homes, belongings and their livelihoods.
He also brings forth the relief committees and their judgement of those who were poor to begin with or were looked down upon as being lazy for not accepting a job - maybe because it didn't pay enough or simply because they truly were unable to work. Nothing's really changed in that regard in this world.
Mr. Smith brings the story of the fire to the present day where maybe fittingly enough the Chicago Fire Academy now resides on the land where the fire started. And lastly there's the story of how the fire started - was it because Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over the lamp?
Read the book and find out for yourself. Not a fast read but there's a lot of detail here that you find fascinating and it's a great picture of a tragic story.
Mr. Smith writes about the relief efforts and the generosity of the many people, US cities and countries that raised money and donations of food and clothing for the people of Chicago who lost their homes, belongings and their livelihoods.
He also brings forth the relief committees and their judgement of those who were poor to begin with or were looked down upon as being lazy for not accepting a job - maybe because it didn't pay enough or simply because they truly were unable to work. Nothing's really changed in that regard in this world.
Mr. Smith brings the story of the fire to the present day where maybe fittingly enough the Chicago Fire Academy now resides on the land where the fire started. And lastly there's the story of how the fire started - was it because Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over the lamp?
Read the book and find out for yourself. Not a fast read but there's a lot of detail here that you find fascinating and it's a great picture of a tragic story.
January 22, 2021
Having read a number of books about the Great Chicago Fire, there really wasn't any new information that I could glean from the part of this book that dealt with the actual disaster. Did she, or didn't she? Was it someone else who may have started the fire? Was it comets or Communists? Maybe it was the work of a vengeful God, or incompetent firefighters. You decide.
What interested me were the events that happened post-fire, which Smith did a good job of recounting. The feeding and sheltering of the newly destitute Chicagoans and the politics and red tape that inevitably bogged down the relief effort. The rush to rebuild the city, while repeating many of the same mistakes that contributed to the great fire's width and depth of destruction. It took another sizable fire in 1874 (though not as wide-spread as the 1871 fire) to get citizens thinking seriously about fire safety.
The Water Tower is the most recognized survivor of the Great Chicago Fire. However, as mentioned in the book, there are other locations that survived as well. It would (in my opinion) be well worth a trip to Chicago to track these places down.
What interested me were the events that happened post-fire, which Smith did a good job of recounting. The feeding and sheltering of the newly destitute Chicagoans and the politics and red tape that inevitably bogged down the relief effort. The rush to rebuild the city, while repeating many of the same mistakes that contributed to the great fire's width and depth of destruction. It took another sizable fire in 1874 (though not as wide-spread as the 1871 fire) to get citizens thinking seriously about fire safety.
The Water Tower is the most recognized survivor of the Great Chicago Fire. However, as mentioned in the book, there are other locations that survived as well. It would (in my opinion) be well worth a trip to Chicago to track these places down.
November 23, 2020
As a long-time Chicago-area resident and history buff, when I heard about Carl Smith's book on the Great Fire of Chicago, I was very curious. I'm glad I satisfied my curiosity and bought a copy.
The book is an eminently readable and straightforward account of the fire and the subsequent rebuilding of Chicago. It also provides enough of the history of pre-fire Chicago to bring the non-historian up to speed. The book is lavishly illustrated and addresses a pet peeve of mine, namely maps.
A surprising number of histories don't have maps, and many of the ones that do use reproductions of historical maps or not well-drawn modern ones. This book has several maps, all modern and easily readable with the key locations clearly marked. I found that helpful.
In general, the book is well-researched and well-laid out, providing information clearly and where it makes logical sense. The prose is workmanlike, which means it doesn't get in the way of the story. Overall, a highly entertaining book.
The book is an eminently readable and straightforward account of the fire and the subsequent rebuilding of Chicago. It also provides enough of the history of pre-fire Chicago to bring the non-historian up to speed. The book is lavishly illustrated and addresses a pet peeve of mine, namely maps.
A surprising number of histories don't have maps, and many of the ones that do use reproductions of historical maps or not well-drawn modern ones. This book has several maps, all modern and easily readable with the key locations clearly marked. I found that helpful.
In general, the book is well-researched and well-laid out, providing information clearly and where it makes logical sense. The prose is workmanlike, which means it doesn't get in the way of the story. Overall, a highly entertaining book.
July 5, 2020
I love historical non-fiction books and this was an enjoyable read! It is very thorough and well researched and will leave you not simply thinking of Mrs. O'Leary's cow and the unproven belief that this was the source of the fire but also the hysteria immediately after, of the recovery, its' role in fire codes, the profiteers who sought to benefit, and of course the inevitable politics that brought grandstanding.
While not told in a narrative style as some of my favorite historical non-fiction books, this is well structured, moves at an appropriate level of detail, and I appreciated the connections back to today with showing current road names and in the final chapter some details that are still visible today (the entrance to a tunnel under the river as well as architectural details).
So go ahead, grab a copy, and enjoy!
Note: I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley for this review.
While not told in a narrative style as some of my favorite historical non-fiction books, this is well structured, moves at an appropriate level of detail, and I appreciated the connections back to today with showing current road names and in the final chapter some details that are still visible today (the entrance to a tunnel under the river as well as architectural details).
So go ahead, grab a copy, and enjoy!
Note: I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley for this review.
September 30, 2020
My great-great grandparents lived in Chicago in the 1870s in the area where the fire started and I've always been interested in its history. This book is fascinating and very informative. It's more than just a recounting of the fire itself. The author explains the political and social attitudes of the city at the time. This gives you a feel for the era and the circumstances that contributed to the fire.
He also covers the period after the fire which brought aid from around the world along with political corruption, power grabs and discrimination against immigrants. Again his descriptions of the forces at work are excellent and provide a unique understanding of the city.
This is an outstanding history of the Chicago Fire and of the city.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
He also covers the period after the fire which brought aid from around the world along with political corruption, power grabs and discrimination against immigrants. Again his descriptions of the forces at work are excellent and provide a unique understanding of the city.
This is an outstanding history of the Chicago Fire and of the city.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
February 15, 2021
I know the basic facts of the Chicago Fire having grown up there ... but I really didn’t until I read this book. Step by step the reader learns about the conditions, politics and the major players in what was to become a famous fire. Hour by hour we are given updates on the status of the fire as it expands west to east and the north. Stories of the people rich, poor middle class all struggling to save their home and belongings only to then merely escape. Maps included in the book show effected areas and prominent structures, placement of the buildings that relate to personal stories. And yes poor Mrs O’Leary is vindicated and officially the cause of the fire is unknown. The book goes on to relate the recovery- again the politics- but also the amazing outpouring of relief from all over the US and even Europe.
It was a well researched and interesting account.
It was a well researched and interesting account.
October 8, 2025
I read this in advance of a first-time trip to Chicago. The first half consists of individual's descriptions of the fire, escape, destruction, etc. Great real-life stories and very exciting. I was hoping that the second half of the book would talk more about the architectural revolution that came afterwards, but it was more about relief efforts and the political strains of managing the relief efforts. Way too much political depth for me -- I found myself skipping and skimming pages in the second half of the book. The book would have been much more interesting if I were familiar with the streets of Chicago as he refers to the locations of happenings on every page.
A good preparation prior to a visit to the city. Ha! I just realized that I finished this book the day of the anniversary of the fire! The 154th anniversary of the fire.
A good preparation prior to a visit to the city. Ha! I just realized that I finished this book the day of the anniversary of the fire! The 154th anniversary of the fire.
October 5, 2020
Having family ties to Chicago I grew up with the usual story about Mrs. O'Leary's cow. What I never knew beyond that has been remedied by this fascinating book. Now I know the kind of life Kate and Patrick O'Leary lived, how their neighbors lived and how the way Chicago was constructed led to it's destruction. This is the way to learn history - from a historian who can write in such a way that the facts come alive. I wish more history came in this form. Looking ahead at my list of birthday and Christmas gifts - I always like to give books - this is going to be on my 'to be given list'.
My thanks to the publisher, Atlantic Monthly Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
My thanks to the publisher, Atlantic Monthly Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 7, 2024
I have only visited Chicago once in my 67 years and that lack of knowledge and connection to the city made this reading less interesting. The author rightfully identifies all locations with street (both old and current names) names to give the reader a clear picture of where the raging fire was attacking. I had no connection and thus was less engaged. It was an interesting book nonetheless with the biggest reveal being that Mrs. O'Leary and her cow were not responsible for the fire and within a year of the ecent that became part of the public record and yet all my life I understood that she and her cow were indeed responsible. This poor Irish Catholic illiterate woman needed a better PR firm!
September 10, 2024
I’d say 3.5 to 4 stars. It was often interesting. It’s not riveting, but it gives some good overview of the fire itself and the political and financial and other consequences after of the fire. The main character is really Chicago itself and I guess the broader people involved. Lots of snippets here and there about specific people, but more as a taste or example of what was going on, no need to try to perfectly know too much about any one person. Except I guess Mrs. O’Leary likely didn’t start the fire after all. The book worked as an audio book to follow some general history learning. The political carping in the aftermath was interesting and kind of disappointing to learn some mentalities have been around a long time.
June 22, 2020
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for the Advanced Release Copy in exchange for my honest review.
I am a sucker for non-fiction historical books. I especially have a propensity for books about tragedies and disasters as sad as that is. The research that Carl Smith put into this was extensive.
You receive a great history of the city itself, its socioeconomic history, as well as, an interesting history of Firefighting in America. It also tells the story of the city's resiliency as it rebuilt and the pictures are an added bonus!
This is a well done historical read that any non-fiction junkie should pick up when it comes out in October.
I am a sucker for non-fiction historical books. I especially have a propensity for books about tragedies and disasters as sad as that is. The research that Carl Smith put into this was extensive.
You receive a great history of the city itself, its socioeconomic history, as well as, an interesting history of Firefighting in America. It also tells the story of the city's resiliency as it rebuilt and the pictures are an added bonus!
This is a well done historical read that any non-fiction junkie should pick up when it comes out in October.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews