Citizens

by Meyer Levin

""Citizens"" by Meyer Levin is a historical novel that tells the story of the American Revolution through the eyes of ordinary citizens. The book follows the lives of several characters, including a young printer's apprentice, a wealthy merchant, a slave, and a British soldier, as they navigate the tumultuous events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Through their experiences, the reader gains a deeper understanding of the political and social forces that shaped the birth of the United States. The novel is rich in historical detail and is a compelling portrayal of the struggles and sacrifices made by the men and women who fought for American independence. Meyer Levin's writing style is engaging and vivid, bringing to life the sights, sounds, and emotions of the era. ""Citizens"" is a must-read for anyone interested in American history or historical fiction.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

656 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1940

Reviews

[Larry Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.