Synopses & Reviews
At the dawn of the twentieth century, Lincoln Steffens, an internationally known and respected political insider, went rogue to work for
McClures Magazine. Credited as the proverbial father of muckraking reporting, Steffens quickly rose to the top of
McClures team of investigative journalists, earning him the attention of many powerful politicians who utilized his knack for tireless probing to battle government corruption and greedy politicians. A mentor of Walter Lippmann, friend of Theodore Roosevelt, and advisor of Woodrow Wilson, Steffens is best known for bringing to light the Mexican Revolution, the 1910 bombing of the
Los Angeles Times, and the Versailles peace talks.
Now, with print journalism and investigative reporters on the decline, Lincoln Steffens biography serves as a necessary call to arms for the newspaper industry. Hartshorns extensive research captures each detail of Steffens lifefrom his private letters to friends to his long and colorful careerand delves into the ongoing internal struggle between his personal life and his overpowering devotion to the cause.”
Review
Praise for
James Joyce and TriesteHartshorn’s information is collected not just from the standard sources . . . His research is admirable and, for the foreseeable future, this short, readable book should be the major authority on an extremely important period of Joyce’s life.” Choice
Peter Hartshorn provides the most readable and detailed account of James Joyce’s Trieste years thus far.” Zack Bowen
Review
Praise for
I Have Seen the Future"Absorbing . . . A biography that is prodigiously researched, fantastically interesting and extremely well written. Steffens would have been pleased by how well Hartshorn has turned him inside out." The New York Times Sunday Book Review
"Well-researched and Well-written." The Wall Street Journal
"This outstanding work offers immediate appeal for both students and practitioners of the journalistic art, while those concerned about freedom of the press and the role of investigative journalism will take comfort in Steffenss legacy as artfully told here. Highly recommended." Library Journal (starred)
"This big, lively book is very well-researched and presents a fascinating history of the age when magazine writers steered national opinion." American Journalism Review
Praise for James Joyce and Trieste
Hartshorns information is collected not just from the standard sources . . . His research is admirable and, for the foreseeable future, this short, readable book should be the major authority on an extremely important period of Joyces life.” Choice
Peter Hartshorn provides the most readable and detailed account of James Joyces Trieste years thus far.” Zack Bowen
Review
"'I think that there's got to be in every ward somebody that any bloke can come to -- no matter what he's done -- and get help. Help, you understand, none of your law and your justice, but help.' Thus did the notorious Boston ward boss Martin Lomasney justify himself in 1908 to investigative reporter Lincoln Steffens. And Steffens, whose exposes of 'shameful' graft and corruption in American cities had made him famous, was impressed. He considered Lomasney 'honest,' as he later said, and "one of the best men in Boston....He lifted the Boston Irish from agents to partners in the game and they played it as Martin saw it played by his betters." Robert K. Landers, The Wall Street Journal (Read the entire Wall Street Journal review)
Synopsis
"A fascinating history of the age when magazine writers steered national opinion . . . This is an extraordinary book about a complex man." --American Journalism Review
At the dawn of the twentieth century, Lincoln Steffens, an internationally known and respected political insider, went rogue to work for McClure's Magazine. Credited as the proverbial father of muckraking reporting, Steffens quickly rose to the top of McClure's team of investigative journalists, earning him the attention of many powerful politicians who utilized his knack for tireless probing to battle government corruption and greedy politicians. A mentor of Walter Lippmann, friend of Theodore Roosevelt, and advisor of Woodrow Wilson, Steffens is best known for bringing to light the Mexican Revolution, the 1910 bombing of the Los Angeles Times, and the Versailles peace talks.
Now, with print journalism and investigative reporters on the decline, Lincoln Steffens' biography serves as a necessary call to arms for the newspaper industry. Hartshorn's extensive research captures each detail of Steffens' life--from his private letters to friends to his long and colorful career--and delves into the ongoing internal struggle between his personal life and his overpowering devotion to the "cause."
"Absorbing . . . Hartshorn] has produced a biography that is prodigiously researched, fantastically interesting, and extremely well-written. Steffens would have been pleased by how well Hartshorn has turned him inside out." --The New York Times
"Well-researched and well-written." --The Wall Street Journal
"Outstanding . . . those concerned about freedom of the press and the role of investigative journalism will take comfort in Steffens's legacy as artfully told here." --Library Journal, starred review