City of the century : the epic of Chicago and the making of America / Donald L. Miller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Miller, Donald L., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chicago (Ill.)--History.

Chicago (Ill.).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (627 pages) : illustrations, portraits

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

2014.

[Place of publication not identified] : RosettaBooks, [2014]

Summary:

“A wonderfully readable account of Chicago’s early history” and the inspiration behind PBS’s American Experience (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times ). Depicting its turbulent beginnings to its current status as one of the world’s most dynamic cities, City of the Century tells the story of Chicago—and the story of America, writ small. From its many natural disasters, including the Great Fire of 1871 and several cholera epidemics, to its winner-take-all politics, dynamic business empires, breathtaking architecture, its diverse cultures, and its multitude of writers, journalists, and artists, Chicago’s story is violent, inspiring, passionate, and fascinating from the first page to the last. The winner of the prestigious Great Lakes Book Award, given to the year’s most outstanding books highlighting the American heartland, City of the Century has received consistent rave reviews since its publication in 1996, and was made into a six-hour film airing on PBS’s American Experience series. Written with energetic prose and exacting detail, it brings Chicago’s history to vivid life. “With City of the Century , Miller has written what will be judged as the great Chicago history.” —John Barron, Chicago Sun-Times “Brims with life, with people, surprise, and with stories.” —David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of John Adams and Truman “An invaluable companion in my journey through Old Chicago.” —Erik Larson, New York Times –bestselling author of The Devil in the White City

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication Page

Contents

Preface

Part I

Introduction: City of Dreamers and Doers

1 Discovery

1. THE PRIEST AND THE EXPLORER

2. JOLIET'S DREAM

2 "Didn't Expect No Town

1. WILD CHICAGO

2. BANISHING THE PAST

3 Ogden's Chicago

1. THE FOUNDER

2. A PRAIRIE ARISTOCRACY

3. THE GRID AND THE BALLOON FRAME

4 The Great Chicago Exchange Engine

1. THE BIG JUNCTION

2. THE MECHANICAL MAN

3. STACKER OF WHEAT AND WOOD, PACKER OF PORK

5 Empire City of the West

1. CHICAGO AGAINST NATURE

2. CITY OF EXTREMES

6 My Lost City

1. THE GREAT FIRE

2. UNAPPROACHABLE IN CALAMITY

Part II

Introduction: Let Us Build Ourselves a City

7 That Astonishing Chicago

1. "GRANDER AND STATELIER THAN EVER

2. AMERICA'S CITY

8 The Chicago Machine

1. EMPIRES OF ORDER AND BLOOD

2. A FORTRESS OF OPPRESSION

3. THE PULLMAN IDEA

4. STEEL RAILS TO COUNTRY KITCHENS

9 The Streetcar City

1. PALACES OF DESIRE

2. THE LOOP

3. CITY AND SUBURB

4. SUNDAY IN CHICAGO

10 Stories in Stone and Steel

1. SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN

2. BURNHAM AND ROOT

3. THE MAJOR'S BIRDCAGE

4. FACTORIES IN THE SKY

11 Sullivan and Civic Renewal

1. THE AUDITORIUM

2. A PROUD AND SOARING THING

12 The New Chicago

1. BURNHAM'S WHITE CITY

2. HUTCHINSON'S THREE-RING CIRCUS

3. HARPER'S UNIVERSITY

4. THE SOCIAL DEFENSE OF CASTE

5. THE NEW CHICAGO WOMAN

6. CLEANSING THE CITY

13 The Battle for Chicago

1. POLITICS "AIN'T BEAN BAG

2. WHY THE WARD BOSS RULES

3. HAYMARKET

4. IT'S HARRISON AGAIN

14 1893

1. THE FAIR

2. THE "GOMORRAH OF THE WEST

3. STORIES OF THE STREETS AND OF THE TOWN

15 After the Fair

1. IF CHRIST CAME TO CHICAGO!

2. REGENERATION

Abbreviations

Notes

Bibliography

Illustrations.

Endnotes

Acknowledgments.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780795339882

0795339887

9780795339851

0795339852

OCLC:

952932189