| Average Customer Rating: |  4.0 |
| Release Date: | 2008-09-16 |
| Publisher: | Crown |
| Author | Howard Blum |
| Number of pages: | 352 |
| ISBN: | 0307346943 |
| Language: | Original Language: English; Unknown: English; Published: English; |
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Product description
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It was an explosion that reverberated across the country—and into the very heart of early-twentieth-century America. On the morning of October 1, 1910, the walls of the Los Angeles Times Building buckled as a thunderous detonation sent men, machinery, and mortar rocketing into the night air. When at last the wreckage had been sifted and the hospital triage units consulted, twenty-one people were declared dead and dozens more injured. But as it turned out, this was just a prelude to the devastation that was to come.
In American Lightning, acclaimed author Howard Blum masterfully evokes the incredible circumstances that led to the original “crime of the century”—and an aftermath more dramatic than even the crime itself.
With smoke still wafting up from the charred ruins, the city’s mayor reacts with undisguised excitement when he learns of the arrival, only that morning, of America’s greatest detective, William J. Burns, a former Secret Service man who has been likened to Sherlock Holmes. Surely Burns, already world famous for cracking unsolvable crimes and for his elaborate disguises, can run the perpetrators to ground.
Through the work of many months, snowbound stakeouts, and brilliant forensic sleuthing, the great investigator finally identifies the men he believes are responsible for so much destruction. Stunningly, Burns accuses the men—labor activists with an apparent grudge against the Los Angeles Times’s fiercely anti-union owner—of not just one heinous deed but of being part of a terror wave involving hundreds of bombings.
While preparation is laid for America’s highest profile trial ever—and the forces of labor and capital wage hand-to-hand combat in the streets—two other notable figures are swept into the drama: industry-shaping filmmaker D.W. Griffith, who perceives in these events the possibility of great art and who will go on to alchemize his observations into the landmark film The Birth of a Nation; and crusading lawyer Clarence Darrow, committed to lend his eloquence to the defendants, though he will be driven to thoughts of suicide before events have fully played out.
Simultaneously offering the absorbing reading experience of a can’t-put-it-down thriller and the perception-altering resonance of a story whose reverberations continue even today, American Lightning is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction.
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Customer reviews
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"Based on True Events"
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Even though this book covered a part of LA's history I wasn't familiar with, American Lightning left me unsatisfied. As an intelligent reader, I know the difference between History and Fiction. And fiction based upon fact can be downright enjoyable *as long as it's labeled "based on a true story."* In a trend popularized with the publication of The Devil in the White City, Blum makes over very real events and people to fit the world, tone and style of a true crime novel.
My academic background is in Twentieth Century American History. Believe me, when I say an historical account reads like fiction, it's not always a good thing. In this case, I would much rather have read a detailed history of the LA Times bombing and the union behind it. In those days, organized labor was a volatile, almost living entity -- and that story alone is fascinating.
I realize that Blum's intent in choosing this writing style is to make history more interesting to the "average" reader. In my opinion, at best this fictionalization of the Past is a dangerous thing; and at worst, dumbs down our country's often violent, colorful history for a generation weaned on TV.
It's readable and enjoyable, but it sure feels like "it's based on true events." In my opinion, American Lightning isn't History -- it's history lite.
Rating: 
(2
out of 5) @ 2009-01-08
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Not really the Crime of the Century but still gripping
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I haven't heard about of the titular crime of the century before I read Howard Blum's book, but even without prior knowledge, I was absorbed by the way Blum depicted the events of the LA Times bombing and its repercussions. It reads like a thriller, dripping with atmosphere reminscent of James Ellroy's works, surely helped by the vivid portrayal of the real-life historical characters of that time. However, since I knew nothing about the event, I was expecting a more sensational crime in the vein of Devil In The White City not a Chinatown-esque complex plot and a battle between labor and capital, amidst the burgeoning cinema industry. Still, it's a fascinating read.
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2009-01-06
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Interesting True Crime
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This was an interesting true crime work about the bombing of the LA Times building in 1910. At the time, labor and management were going at it hot and heavy, especially in Los Angeles. The author traces Billy Burns' quest to find the bombers. At the time, he was known as America's best private investigator.
Mr. Blum also relates Clarence Darrow's role as he defended the two defendants, the McNamara brothers: J.J. was a labor leader and his brother, Jim, the hired bomber.
The best part of the book - by far - is Burns' tracking down of the bombers. He uncovers a huge conspiratorial scheme of bombing non-union jobs all over the country - a bit of interesting and unknown history. His methods and relentless pursuit is a well-told narrative.
Equally riveting is how Burns trod all over the Constitutional rights of the accused. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes because nascent technology, like recording devices, had not yet been explored by the legal process. At the same time, Darrow's team was buying jurors and intimidating witnesses - a different kind of law an order than we are used to in the 21st century.
For the most part, the book skids to a halt after the capture of the brothers. The remainder - the trial and settlement - is presented almost as an afterthought. Darrow's trial for juror tampering is skimmed over. Perhaps the biggest indication that everything after the capture is given short shrift is that the reader is told Burns was charged with kidnapping, but nothing about the disposition of that felony charge - a pretty big gap in information.
Mr. Blum also brings D.W. Griffiths into the book as he is developing the American film industry and moving it to Hollywood. There really is no relationship between Griffiths and the crime-capture-trial. I imagine he is there because he was prominent in 1910 and making some pro-labor and pro-little guy movies. The information was interesting, but did not add to the book in chief.
This book is well worth the reading for the two-thirds devoted to the bombing, the labor strife of the times and the pursuit and capture of two of the bombing cartel. It is very readable and a decent light history on a little known subject.
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-12-25
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american ightening great read
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American Lightening by Howard Blum is a non fiction "Ragtime" so to speak, wih set in the early 20th century with hisorical characters each following their own agendas. In a period where unions represented socialism the L.A Times was determined to destroy the unions. The most radical factions of the unions were determined to destroy with bombs non union projects. The famous bombing of the L.A Times building resulting in 21 deaths culminated in a force that brought together such diverse people as Clarence Darrow, D.W Griffith and th members of the Byrnes detective agency. American Lightening is well worth the effort if one is interested in early 20th century American history.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-24
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Truth is stranger then fiction
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This spellbinding historical novel takes the reader on a fascinating journey back in time to turn of the century America. Howard Blum's book follows detective Billy Burns furtively across an America flirting with all-out class warfare as he tries to solve what Americans called at the time, 'the crime of the century'. (Americans had no idea what was in store for them later.) Burns, like all the other protagonists of the story, is a self-made man in a rough-and-tumble, no-holds-barred form of raw capitalism. It was the apogee of the robber barons.
Blum's real-life characters, Billy Burns, D.W. Griffith, Clarence Darrow, and Harrison Otis, not only find themselves in the midst of great social upheaval, but they also, in their own way, shaped American society as well. Whether it's the craftiness of Burns, the vision of Griffith, the grit of Otis, or the trials of Darrow, all the characters are truly believable with convincing dialogue as well. After reading the book, you'll feel like you know each one.
In America the atmosphere is white hot, as strident labor and ruthless management are dangerously close to breaking out into all-our class warfare. Burns is hired by the Los Angeles to find out who bombed Harrison Otis' LA Times building (incidentally horrifically burning dozens of people to death). Was it the labor unions? Anarchists? Or perhaps Otis himself to give an excuse to crush the union movement? Or was it merely an accident? (Gas lighting - along with attendant, occasional explosions - was common at the time.)
I highly recommend this book to any history or crime novel aficionados.
Rating:
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-23
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