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A review by pierceinverarity
American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood & the Crime of the Century by Howard Blum
3.0
The fascinating historical events and personalities drew me to this book. The narrative, however, is often melodramatic and contrived.
I listened to an audio version, so was unable to assess any footnotes or bibliography, but the lengthy quoted passages of dialogue, and even internal monologues, made me doubt the historical veracity of the story.
Lastly, D.W. Griffith is a central character in the book. But the work he is most known for, "Birth of a Nation," is treated only passingly towards the end of the book, and the film's inflammatory racism is glibly glossed over, which I found utterly unconscionable.
I listened to an audio version, so was unable to assess any footnotes or bibliography, but the lengthy quoted passages of dialogue, and even internal monologues, made me doubt the historical veracity of the story.
Lastly, D.W. Griffith is a central character in the book. But the work he is most known for, "Birth of a Nation," is treated only passingly towards the end of the book, and the film's inflammatory racism is glibly glossed over, which I found utterly unconscionable.