Scan barcode
A review by krisrid
American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood & the Crime of the Century by Howard Blum
5.0
This was an absolutely fantastic read! As thrilling and interesting and colourful as any historical fiction story you care to mention - except this is REAL history - it happened!
In the very early morning of October 1, 1910, the Los Angeles Times newspaper building was destroyed by a massive explosion. When the rubble was sifted and the situation reviewed, 21 people were dead, many more injured and the Times building a charred, smoking wreckage. And this is just the start of the story!
The book goes on to chronicle the extensive investigation into what was determined to be an intentionally set bomb, and what was described as "the crime of the century".
The author uses three key people who were deeply involved in the case to tell the story:
Billy Burns - former Secret Service man and known as America's greatest detective [he was compared to Sherlock Holmes for his ability to solve complicated crimes], Billy happens to be in Los Angeles on the day the bomb explodes, so the city of Los Angeles begs him to find those responsible and bring them to justice. A self-important and arrogant man - although undoubtedly a brilliant detective - Billy ultimately can't refuse the case [although at first he tries hard to do exactly that] and throws everything he has into solving the crime.
Clarence Darrow - famous attorney, and well-known defender of lost causes, Darrow gets involved once the alleged bombers are caught and put on trial for the crime. Darrow is also unwillingly drawn into the case, as he is tired and discouraged about the impact all his legal dedication has had on the world, and is contemplating a quiet retirement in Chicago with his wife Ruby. But Darrow is strong-armed, cajoled and, eventually threatened into taking the case, for which the accused will be hanged if convicted.
D.W. Griffith - Griffith was a film-maker in the fledging movie industry who's ability to bring issues and impacts, heros and villians, and emotional connections to the massess in ways that simply weren't possible until people began paying a nickel to go into a darkened theatre and enter another world has a surprising impact on the way the Times bombing case plays out.
The book is really a comprehensive snap-shot of a specific point in the history of the U.S., and the author does a tremendous job in really bringing the time to life for the reader.
The bombing investigation eventually reveals that the bombing is related to the ferocious, and often deadly battle raging at that time between unions and capitalistic business owners, both trying to maintain and increase their power in the work equation of the times. All those investigated and ultimately accused in the bombing are involved in some way in the labour/management equation. And it becomes apparent that the battle over who will control working conditions in America has a great deal to do with the bombing.
We also get an exciting insider view of the development of the movie industry, and how it went from short movies to the epics we see today. Along the way, we meet Mary Pickford - the first movie "star" - and the Gish sisters. We see the evolution of making movies, and the vision of a director who could create an entire film inside his head before putting it on film.
The interconnections, and impacts these three characters have on each other - both directly and indirectly - and their larger impacts on the bombing case and the evolution of the United States as a whole are truly engrossing. I didn't want to put the book down once I started it, because it is well-written, the characters are so engrossing and interesting, and the story really is better than fiction! I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
In the very early morning of October 1, 1910, the Los Angeles Times newspaper building was destroyed by a massive explosion. When the rubble was sifted and the situation reviewed, 21 people were dead, many more injured and the Times building a charred, smoking wreckage. And this is just the start of the story!
The book goes on to chronicle the extensive investigation into what was determined to be an intentionally set bomb, and what was described as "the crime of the century".
The author uses three key people who were deeply involved in the case to tell the story:
Billy Burns - former Secret Service man and known as America's greatest detective [he was compared to Sherlock Holmes for his ability to solve complicated crimes], Billy happens to be in Los Angeles on the day the bomb explodes, so the city of Los Angeles begs him to find those responsible and bring them to justice. A self-important and arrogant man - although undoubtedly a brilliant detective - Billy ultimately can't refuse the case [although at first he tries hard to do exactly that] and throws everything he has into solving the crime.
Clarence Darrow - famous attorney, and well-known defender of lost causes, Darrow gets involved once the alleged bombers are caught and put on trial for the crime. Darrow is also unwillingly drawn into the case, as he is tired and discouraged about the impact all his legal dedication has had on the world, and is contemplating a quiet retirement in Chicago with his wife Ruby. But Darrow is strong-armed, cajoled and, eventually threatened into taking the case, for which the accused will be hanged if convicted.
D.W. Griffith - Griffith was a film-maker in the fledging movie industry who's ability to bring issues and impacts, heros and villians, and emotional connections to the massess in ways that simply weren't possible until people began paying a nickel to go into a darkened theatre and enter another world has a surprising impact on the way the Times bombing case plays out.
The book is really a comprehensive snap-shot of a specific point in the history of the U.S., and the author does a tremendous job in really bringing the time to life for the reader.
The bombing investigation eventually reveals that the bombing is related to the ferocious, and often deadly battle raging at that time between unions and capitalistic business owners, both trying to maintain and increase their power in the work equation of the times. All those investigated and ultimately accused in the bombing are involved in some way in the labour/management equation. And it becomes apparent that the battle over who will control working conditions in America has a great deal to do with the bombing.
We also get an exciting insider view of the development of the movie industry, and how it went from short movies to the epics we see today. Along the way, we meet Mary Pickford - the first movie "star" - and the Gish sisters. We see the evolution of making movies, and the vision of a director who could create an entire film inside his head before putting it on film.
The interconnections, and impacts these three characters have on each other - both directly and indirectly - and their larger impacts on the bombing case and the evolution of the United States as a whole are truly engrossing. I didn't want to put the book down once I started it, because it is well-written, the characters are so engrossing and interesting, and the story really is better than fiction! I cannot recommend this book highly enough!