Recasting American Liberty: Gender, Race, Law, and the Railroad Revolution, 1865-1920 (Cambridge Historical Studies in American Law and Society)
"In this well-written book, Barbara Young Welke offers a thoughtful and comprehensive analysis...[her] book should appeal to scholars in many fields, especially those interested in law..."   American Journal of Sociology"Welke has written a perceptive and intriguing analysis that not only sheds light on the social and communal effects of rail traffic but also provide a glimpse of the personal consequences of technological change, safety regulations, and policy decisions....This well-organized and extensively documented work considers the significance of such issues as physical and psychological injuries associated with rail traffic as well as the role that gendered policies and racial segregation played in the meaning of individual liberty in industrializing the US."   Choice"[An] outstanding work of social and legal history..."   Journal of Interdisciplinary History"Welke's study...is a welcome addition to the growing literature on how railroading shaped legal culture. Based upon meticulous research in legal records, it will stimulate debate and deserves a large audience."   H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online