Review: Like a runaway train...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 25, 2011
The narrative builds pace like a locomotive that's lost its breaks and is careening downhill. It's a good, quick and satisfying read.This is historical writing at its finest. Not only does it bring to life the questionable election of Rutherford B. Hays and post-Civil War militias, but also the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. It highlights an oft-forgotten part of American history. Never mind the romance of the train, if you've ever wondered why railroads were hated by many a hundred years ago, and, as a consequence why many other countries have more-developed rail systems than the United States, here's a good part of your answer.