Synopses & Reviews
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City burst into flames. The factory was crowded. The doors were locked to ensure workers stay inside. One hundred forty-six people—mostly women—perished; it was one of the most lethal workplace fires in American history until September 11, 2001.
But the story of the fire is not the story of one accidental moment in time. It is a story of immigration and hard work to make it in a new country, as Italians and Jews and others traveled to America to find a better life. It is the story of poor working conditions and greedy bosses, as garment workers discovered the endless sacrifices required to make ends meet. It is the story of unimaginable, but avoidable, disaster. And it the story of the unquenchable pride and activism of fearless immigrants and women who stood up to business, got America on their side, and finally changed working conditions for our entire nation, initiating radical new laws we take for granted today.
With Flesh and Blood So Cheap, Albert Marrin has crafted a gripping, nuanced, and poignant account of one of America's defining tragedies.
Synopsis
Marrin tells the harrowing account of the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in 1911 that killed 146 people. Entwined is the story of immigration in early 20th-century America and of the hard work to make it in a new country.
Synopsis
Spanning American history from the 17th century to the present, Worlds Apart looks at the fascinating stories behind twenty communities that were created around principles and ideals that were somehow at odds with the rest of society. Beginning with a Dutch colony in Delaware that outlawed slavery in the 1660s and ending with the 20-year-old Florida community first dreamed up by Walt Disney, Worlds Apart describes the men and women behind these would-be utopias and explores where these experiments succeeded and how they ultimately failed. Enriched by historical and contemporary images and maps, the book offers an incredible portrait of American ideals.
About the Author
ALBERT MARRIN is the author of numerous highly regarded nonfiction books for young readers, including Years of Dust; The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America; and Sitting Bull and His World. His many honors include the Washington Children's Book Guild and Washington Post Non-Fiction Award for an "outstanding lifetime contribution that has enriched the field of children's literature," the James Madison Book Award for lifetime achievement, and the National Endowment for Humanities Medal.