Back of the Yards: The Making of a Local Democracy
Until now, the historic Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago has been neglected by social historians. The packinghouse district, made famous by Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (1906), provides a case study in the evolution of an immigrant community over two generations. Originally fragmented by religion and ethnicity, people gradually were drawn together into ever-larger interest groups. Slayton's book, based partly on interviews, presents a colorful and moving picture of this diverse area, its people, their homes, and their jobs. The author's sensitivity to the community's character sometimes leads him dangerously close to veneration and a facile interpretation of democratic progress. Nevertheless, this is recommended for those interested in the emergence of cities. Charles K. Piehl, Director of Grants Management, Mankato State Univ., Minn.Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.