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How about this one -- I'm really looking forward to reading it:

http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Never-Died-American/dp/1596916966/

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  1. avrdsAugust 29, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    And speaking of Joe Hill, Richard White's "Railroaded" appears to be an important book from all the reviews (nice app here):

    http://www.ongo.com/v/1088436/-1/22819AAA0D64C382/too-big-to-fail

    Funny, this review was written by a friend's daughter. Also amazing to see ....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rick DiguetteAugust 30, 2011 at 1:12 AM

    Didn't Wallace Stegner write a novel about Hill?

    And this article is also good:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/27/us/27hill.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=joe%20hill&st=cse

    ReplyDelete
  3. avrdsAugust 30, 2011 at 4:05 AM

    Yes, and Gibbs Smith wrote a book as well.

    As I recall (it has been years since I read them), they both thought he was guilty. This book might make for an interesting counter to the assumption of guilt.

    The photos linked at the headline went with that NY Times story -- worth looking at.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 7:40 AM

    Is Richard White the guy who wrote the New History of the American West orsomething like that some years ago.Is at Stanford now I believe.bosox

    ReplyDelete
  5. James FergusonAugust 30, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    I think I have the Stegner book.

    ReplyDelete
  6. avrdsAugust 30, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    Bo, Richard White is one of the "New West" historians. Sounds like Railroaded is a good and very different look at the myth of the railroads. I'll be reading that one for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  7. avrdsAugust 30, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Gintaras, I just checked and I still have both Joe Hill books. If this new book has "new evidence" I'm sure I"ll be adding this one to the stacks.

    I heard a scathing talk yesterday on the death of liberalism by Chris Hedges. http://www.alternativeradio.org/products/hedc004

    There used to be a tradition of Joe Hills and Big Bill Haywoods and others looking out for working people and pushing back at capitalism. I think Hedges is right -- those days are gone.

    ReplyDelete
  8. James FergusonAugust 30, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    After Empire Express, it will be a while before I want to tackle another railroad book. David Haward Bain's book was exhausting, but very good.

    ReplyDelete
  9. avrdsAugust 31, 2011 at 5:06 AM

    Bain's book must have made quite the impression! I remember reading it in SF the first time I met Chartres. We met at Tadich's and she ordered Hangtown Fry, some odd concoction of eggs and oysters that was Mark Twain's favorite dish. That was a long, long time ago.

    I'll be gone for a week, but will try to check in. I'm up for any 2011 book that sounds good. How about this one:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-chitlin-circuit-by-preston-lauterbach-about-pre-rock-black-music/2011/06/27/gIQAyjy73H_story.html

    Or Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris Perry. Anything she writes has to be great.

    ReplyDelete
  10. James FergusonAugust 31, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Looks like it could be a fun read. Will post it. Still have Lomax's book, The Land Where the Blues Began, sitting on the shelf, which chartres recommended long ago.

    ReplyDelete

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