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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 345.730252309744
EAN: 9780670063536
ISBN: 0670063533
Label: Viking Adult
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 448
Publication Date: August 16, 2007
Publisher: Viking Adult
Studio: Viking Adult

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
The riveting true story of one of the nation’s most infamous trials and executions

When the state of Massachusetts electrocuted Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti on August 23, 1927, it concluded one of the most controversial legal cases in American history. In the eight decades since, debate has raged over what was probably a miscarriage of justice.

In the first full-length narrative of the case in thirty years, Bruce Watson unwinds a gripping tale that opens with anarchist bombs going off in a posh Washington, D.C., neighborhood and concludes with worldwide outrage over the execution of the “good shoemaker” and the “poor fish peddler.” Sacco and Vanzetti mines deep archives and new sources, unveiling fresh details about these naïve dreamers and militant revolutionaries. This case still haunts the American imagination. Authoritative and engrossing, Sacco and Vanzetti will capture fans of true crime books and everyone who enjoys riveting American history.




Rating: - Class Struggle in the Dock, Circa 1920
Honor the Memory of Sacco and Vanzetti on this the 81st Anniversary of their execution by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (August 23, 1927).

I like to put each item about the Sacco and Vanzetti case that I review in historical context with this well-worn standard first paragraph of mine. It, I believe, holds up today as in the past- Those familiar with the radical movement know that at least once in every generation a political criminal case comes up that defines that era. One thinks ... Read More

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Rating: - "Wops" and "Ragheads": A Lesson We Should Have Already Learned
This is a vibrant history of the tragedy of Sacco and Vanzetti. The book bursts with relevance when the reader imagines the "wops" of the 1920s as the "ragheads" of the 21st century. Whether S & V were guilty is not relevant (though most likely they were not guilty of any crime). The tragedy of the story is how they were denied a fair trial because Massachusetts was swept up in a xenophobic backlash against all Italians/anarchists based on isolated acts of terrorism. That a few Italians were suspected ... Read More

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Rating: - Justice Denied
The 1920s was referred to as the Jazz Age. Names like Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Bill Tilden, Charles Lindberg, Red Grange, Al Jolson, Al Capone, and numerous others dominated the decade. Often overlooked, however, are the names of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti who spent the greater part of the decade in a Massachusetts prison until executed in the electric chair in August of 1927. Victims of a vindictive judge, a prejudicial jury foreman, and a politically charged atmosphere against Italians both ... Read More

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Rating: - A Definitive Account of a Global Phenomenon
Watson has put together a thorough study of the men and the global phenomenon surrounding their trial, appeals and eventual execution. I give him a lot of credit, for while he takes a pretty dim view of the trial judge and prosecutor (as well as S&Z's early defense team) he is objective about the question of their actual guilt and innocence.

Watson spends the early part of the book with an introduction to the accused, some family history and laying the political groundwork; but, the real yeoman's ... Read More

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Rating: - Guilty or innocent?
Some names cannot be spoken by themselves, but must always be a part of a pair: Laurel & Hardy, Wilbur & Orville, Martin & Lewis, etc.. Thus we have the names of two immigrant Italian men whose execution took place almost exactly 100 years ago (August 22, 1927). In the ensuing years, a plethora of books, pamphlets, articles, dramas, etc. have been produced, each one arguing either their innocence or guilt. This extremely well-written book really tries to walk the thin line between the two extremes, but appears ... Read More

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