The Bomb

This is the story of an immigrant who gets drawn into period (late 1800s) anarchy in the U.S. Here, one reads about the heinous maltreatment of the immigrant labor force by the robber barons and other rapscallions. The narrator ultimately travels to Chicago where the maltreatment of these workers comes to a head when a bomb is thrown in The Haymarket Square, killing some (corrupt) policemen. As one reads this excellent story, s/he is reminded of similar works such as "The Jungle" (Upton Sinclair), or, "The Black Flag: A Look Back at the Strange Case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti" (Brian Jackson). However, "The Bomb" is, of course fiction, albeit based upon an actual historical event, and so it's a smoother read... a page-turner really. The more subtle focal point of the book hits upon the core philosophy of anarchism all of which is shrewdly conveyed through riveting dialogue and suspenseful action. Regarding the book edition, I acquired an old used library copy, published in hardcover (with a dustjacket) by The University of Chicago Press, in 1963. The work was originally published in 1909 by Mitchell Kennerley (New York), and was republished by the author in 1920. I am very pleased with both the readability and the binding of my edition. Finally, in the introduction by John Dos Passos, we are told that the author, Frank Harris, was a fringe sort of fellow, and perhaps a bit of a scoundrel at times. But Harris has done a fine job with the book and I highly recommend it.

I really liked the way this book was written. Full of descriptions, it tells a story of love, a great friendship and a life that immigrants had and in some ways still have to live in a new country. The book is written in such a way that it makes a reader think that the author, not the protagonist, threw the bomb. It is worth of your money and of your time to read it.

Frank Harris gives a wonderful account of the Haymarket Square Riots with one of the greatest, most idealistic love stories as a subplot. Throughout this book I felt truly inclined to believe just how incredible the hero of the novel is. It introduced me to the ideas of socialism and put thoughts in my mind that perhaps the bombing was justified. Either way, this is a fascinating book that should be given the time and chance to be read.