CITY OF SCOUNDRELS The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago

What shapes a city? In the case of Chicago, several catastrophic events almost 100 years ago helped form the Midwestern metropolis. In 1919, residents endured a horrific accident, massive riots, and a widening social-class system. Through it all was “Big Bill" Thompson, a political machine in the making. As Krist details the political and social climate of the day, Rob Shapiro’s steady narration gives the listener a feel for what Chicagoans had to endure. Shapiro doesn’t overdo the drama in this well-researched story about the city’s growing pains, Big Bill’s larger-than-life persona, and residents’ frustrations. Rather, he acts as an objective history teacher, letting the facts speak for themselves. M.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012]