Illinois Books

This book was one of the most honest and entertaining writings concerning life in the Merchant Marine I have ever seen. Real people giving down to earth accounts of life on a Liberty Ship. I spent nine months in the North Atlantic on a Liberty Ship and as I was reading the book could almost feel the deck (floor) vibrate and roll. I was able to reach the author by phone and was able to thank him for putting their experiences in book form . I would recommend this book to anyone who was in the Merchant Marine, their familly members, or anyone who just likes to read a light entertaining , almost documentary account of life in the Merchant Marine during WW 11.

Three seamen in the Merchant Marine when America was at war were Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston and Jim Longhi, this book's author. Not many people know Woody shipped out with the Merchant Marine in 1943 with nothing more than a seabag, well he took along a guitar, a mandolin, a case of books and a portable typewriter. One might have thought he was going to a concert and not to war, but Woody played guitar, wherever he went, the Grand Coulee Damn or U-boat infested waters. And with fellow folksinger Cisco along for the ride, you can bet the playing on that boat was mighty fine.

Though they had regular duties aboard, Woodie and Cisco were morale boosters and with U-boats lurking, storms raging, seas rough and waves high, they were certainly appreciated. On more than one occasion they saw other ships in their convoy go down, but this page turning book isn't only about the terror of the deep during war, it also has quite a few laughs thrown in. You just won't believe the cooking school bit Woodie, Cisco and Jim had to go through and you'll enjoy all heck out of their shore leaves. Still, war is grim business.

This is a must read for any fan of Woodie Guthrie's or Cisco Houston's. It's also a very good book which reads like fiction, though every word is true. I can't recommend this highly enough, it's a story about America, a story about folksingers, a story you'll never forget.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene

as an ex merchant mariner the book brings back memories of how it was on an everyday basis for three buddies going to sea-details of which you dont hear about normally.Humorous reality.

A sea story to end all sea stories. Thanks, Brother Longhi

If you are a fan of Woody, or Cisco, or both, buy this book before it goes out of print. Jim Longhi served with them on several U.S. Merchant Marine voyages during WWII, and he shows us just how much courage it took to help the war effort in that manner.This may be the closest thing to a real biography of Cisco Houston that fans will ever get. The Woody Guthrie you meet in these pages is a guy who had already achieved some fame due to his record "Dust Bowl Ballads" which came out in l940. Here, in l943, he is still ten years away from being disabled by Huntington's Disease. These three left-wing unionizers (Jim is an interesting man in his own right, though not a real musician) were mostly broke, but patriotic and brave and great morale-boosters for the common soldiers who often traveled on merchant ships across the Atlantic, where u-boat attacks were a continual threat. Torpedoed once and once hitting a mine, the "Seamen Three" were indeed in life-threatening combat situations.This is not just insightful, or worshipful towards Woody. It is often hilarious as well. The depiction of a maritime character called Courtroom Kelly is only a chapter in the middle, but it is worth the purchase price all by itself. Thanks, Jim, for doing this project. Anyone who has read, or who owns, Woody's own "Bound for Glory" or Joe Klein's "Woody Guthrie: A Life" needs to have this book in the collection as well.

True to the topic, it transports you right there. Historical and old, but still current.

I thought this book was one of the best books Ive ever read it describes how people feel and view the world from inside themselves but can never express this externally or even realise they are thinking these things themselves.

For me It depicts how inadequate we all are men and women, when it comes to Love, and expressing it and sharing it. it flumoxes us all, Its too big for us, "the chickens had more sense"....pass the worms please.

Written about a South African farm. this book depicts the story of a family and how they interact throughout the book. The most striking dynamic in the book is the relationships of the women in it. It portrays female existence in a realistic light even for today. The story has a lot of character to it, and I would recommend it highly for teachers who want to teach about feminism.

Although I had to read this book for a college class, I would read it again in a second, I feel that I can only gain more and more from this book through rereadings. Its plot is at times disjointed to the style of the author and the message she is attempting to convey, so for those who are looking for a strongly Dickensian or "feel good" read, this is most likely not the book for you right now. But for me, from an analytical and heartfelt standpoint, the subtlety of the book and its beauty and its truth made me tear up a little bit. I'm currently writing a paper on Waldo and his artistic and personal growth throughout the novel, so maybe I'm a little biased, but although Lyndall is an incredibly interesting and advanced character, I think Waldo is often glossed over as merely suffering from a religious crisis of faith, and, being a man, not deserving of attention in this novel of the "New Woman". But Waldo ultimately reaches a place of amazing peace and understanding, and the lives of Waldo and Lyndall intertwined together is truly beautiful.

"Story of an African Farm" is a difficult work to describe. It must be read several times, and carefully pondered before all of its secrets are unlocked.

Ostensibly, the book revolves around the lives of three children (and, later, adults) who live in the Karroo plains of South Africa. The main focus, however, is on two of the characters - Waldo, the earnest and deeply curious son of the German farmkeeper, and Lyndall, the beautiful, outspoken and rebellious orphan who suffers all her life for her ideals.

The book itself is semi-autobiographical. Waldo represents Schreiner's journey from fanatical, childlike faith to bitter skepticism, who reaches a watershed of sorts when he hisses to Lyndall 'There is no God - none!'. Lyndall, on the other hand, embodies Schreiner's frustation with her station as a woman - barred from the upper echelons of society, and her inability to find a mate who is both her intellectual match and willing to accept her as an equal. "I want to love", she whispers to the grave of Waldo's father, "I want something great and pure to lift me to itself."

There are many other themes that flesh out the subtext of this extraordinary book - the tragedy of solitude, that ultimately, all humans are alone in the cosmos. "Dear eyes", the dying Lyndall whispers to her mirror, "they will never part us."

Readers who expect a narrative will be dissapointed. What narrative there is serves only to undersore the book's many themes. Often, the flow of the story is out of sequence, or devoid of context, and deliberately so. Roughly, the book is divided into three sections - the first introduces us to the characters as children, and reveals their innermost thoughts. The second, and shortest section is entitled "Times and Seasons". It is somewhat of a summary of what has gone before, dealing mostly with Waldo's journey from Christian fanaticism to dispairing atheism, and foreshadows some of what is to come. The third, and longest section, covers the lives of the characters as adults, and is by far the most powerful, and moving piece of the book.

The reader who is looking for mindless action is advised to pick up the latest Tom Clancy novel, or whatever passes for literature these days. Those who are willing to put aside all preconceived notions, and have their cherished beliefs challenged are invited to read this book. The search for truth is endless. But this book is a perfect place to begin.

Through the eyes of this avid reader, a 4th grade teacher and a camp director for middle school age students for over 20 years, I can confidently say that not only will adults enjoy this book, but so will teens. Too often the subject of death/loss and teen angst is ignored or introduced at the end of stories (ie Bridge to Terabithia, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc.). Here is a refreshing book that deals with these issues from the first chapter. There is enough baseball, mystery and friendship issues/adventures to capture even a teen boys attention. Fellow teachers: this story has great potential for some in depth (middle/high school) classroom discussions and writings in areas such as; loss, bullying and love (romantic/family/friends). On top of all of this, a mysterious character and ending to challenge/engage even an adult's discussion group. I highly recommend this book.

Over a ten day period during the summer of 1955, fourteen-year-old James Sayer learns a lot about friendship, racism, family, death, and how forgiveness always comes at a price.

It's been over a year since James's younger brother, Brand, died. Brand suffered from a rare blood disease, and everyone knew that he probably wouldn't grow into adulthood. But Brand didn't die from his disease, at least not directly, and although no one else seems to blame James for his brother's passing, he certainly blames himself. His beloved brother's death has left a hole in his heart, and he's not the same happy-go-lucky teen that he once was. He no longer has any interest in baseball, which was an activity that he and his brother shared together. Drawing, another shared interest, has been pushed by the wayside, abandoned.

Until James gets a job working at the fair for the summer alongside his friend Costello, serving ice cream at Mr. Curren's stand. Along with their other friends, G-Man and Fizz, James hopes to spend the summer working hard, avoiding the baseball games that he'll inevitably be asked to join, and staying out of trouble.

Unfortunately, that doesn't work out as well as he'd planned.

First, there are girls. Namely, a girl named Paige, who he can't seem to get enough of, even though she irritates him constantly. Then there's G-Man and the girl he loves, Marie, which causes tons of trouble since G-Man is black and Maria is white. Then there's the group of bullies in town, led by Black-Eye, who likes to make trouble anywhere he can find it.

Slowly, though, James finds these strange days of summer changing everything he knows about life and love, of tolerance and diversity, and of blame and forgiveness. For James, these ten days during 1955 might just be the turning point that he's been waiting for.

Author Jonathan Zemsky has penned an emotional story that will take you back to the past, when tensions ran high and going to the fair was the highlight of any young boy's summer. With the sounds of baseball all around you and the smell of the fairgrounds drifting in the air, BEYOND THE SHADOWS OF SUMMER is a sweet, sentimental read that you're guaranteed to enjoy.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

I blew through this book in two days. Once you start you cannot put it down. It contains drama, tragedy, comedy and also a little supernatural. I absolutely loved it and I hope this author has many more like it in the future.

When you read the brief description of "Beyond the Shadows Of Summer", you might mistakenly think that this is a story for adolescents or teens, but you'd be wrong. This is a book for men and women, boys and girls of all ages. Whether you're a teenager that can relate to the book or an adult that has this book conjure up memories, it is for everyone.

This is a story about first love, the tragic loss of a loved one, and the life altering experiences that you can go through due to both experiences.

The book, at 188 pages, is a quick read and after the first few pages, you'll be surprised at how quickly you get to page 188.

Having a teenaged son, I'm a few years removed from a lot of the experiences that the main character, James goes through...but thanks to the fine writing of Mr. Zemsky, I felt as if most of these experiences happened only yesterday.

The only negative I can think of, is that the book had to end.

Great storyline. The author manages to keep you entertained from start to finish. The characters are interesting and well developed which adds to the moral dilemmas that pop up throughout the book. An enjoyable read.

This is a wonderful picture of the small Illinois town where my mother was born. It was a treat to see the mention of some of my family members. My great-grandfather was the owner of the Williams Mortuary. This was a treat!!

MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS IN TOWN WHEN THE BOOTLEGGER WAS SHOT AND KNEW HIM. THIS BOOK SHOWS THE TRUE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF LIFE NOT JUST IN SMALL TOWNS BUT ACROSS AMERICA. EXCELLENT HISTORY LESSON OF SURVIVAL AND WHAT GENERATIONS BEFORE US DID TO GIVE US WHAT WE HAVE.

This is definitely a page turner--rare in nonfiction. Mr. Hallwas combines the suspense of a murder mystery and the facts of a history lesson and makes it all fascinating! I was born in the area and my family's surnames are mentioned throughout the book. Most of my family members have read the book and have SO enjoyed it! In fact it may have solved a generations-old family mystery of a missing relative! A must read for anyone with family roots in small town America!

This accurate and off the beaten path history read like a murder mystery and showed me the various stages in the growth and death of a small town It also showed "what the simple folks did" to get get their booze during the depression era

This book is excellent. Definitely a "can't put down" book. Hard to imagine the quiet, sleepy town of Colchester was once involved with Al Capone, Shoeless Joe Jackson, bombings of homes of law enforcement agents, and murders, bootlegging and crimes of this nature!

Electrifying images with intense feeling. Fine photography by Raeburn Flerlage and superb editing by Lisa Day. What a moving adventure to turn each page. I felt like I was in the audience and part of each photograph.

The blues are not just notes and lyrics, instruments and people, but, more a frame, a view of the world, and of life, from inside and under.

Raeburn Flerage's evocative photographs and commentary, partnered with Lisa Day's luminous editing, have given us all a rare opportunity - a chance to take that view through Flerage's camera lens and rembrances.

Black and white - could the pictures be anything but black and white and all the muted tones of grey inbetween? And could the comments be more laconic and straight to the heart of the Blues?

I do not think so. I cannot reproduce the sensation in this review, but Flerlage's description of a 1964 performance of Sam House, tells the tale and paints the picture: "After a brief ingratiating smile, his face change dramatically, first slowly but then swiflty as the lyrics changed he projected those terrible moments that haunted his memory. When he sang "Death Letter Blues," he saw his dead girlfriend, "lying on the cooling board" and it made your own blood run cold. The scene was reflected in his face, sounded in the violent guitar strokes and his painfully forced voice. Unforgetable!" Unforgetable indeed when those lines are coupled to the stark photos of that performance by Lisa Day's skillful use of words and pictures, white and black and grey.

We weren't there. We can't really know the feelings. Like Sam House's comments on hearing his lyrics sung by an up-and-coming, young White blues pretender - "Those are my words all right, but it sure ain't my music." - we can't know it unless we are inside, down and under. "Chicago Blues: as Seen from the Inside" takes us about as close as we can get visually. Turn the pages with real blues in the background - "Unforgetable!"

This is the best photo documentary of a music culture I have ever seen, the photos are so alive you feel you are there, you remember when you were there, even if you never were. The text is as beautiful and intimate and truthful as the photos. The scope is big and very complete. I spend hours, looking and looking again, reading and re-reading. I close the book and the music stops.

I met Flerlage a few years ago in Chicago when I was doing some research for a now-forgotten project and I went through his collection of fantastic photos with him in his apartment and loved every second of it. The composition and lighting in these pictures is beautiful, and he catches something of the energy of the performances that is pretty amazing. Flerlage isn't one of these precious blues prigs (e.g., Steve Calt) who spends all of his time trying to protect some pet thesis and trashing everyone else's work relentlessly, but is a real dude who lived jazz and blues on the South Side in a way that few other writers or photographers have. The result is what you see -- great photographs, on the ground, in the clubs with the people who made the scene as wild and energetic as it was. If you want to see pictures that give you a real taste of the power of jazz and blues in teh 50s and 60s, get this book and linger over these fantastic photographs. You won't regret it.

Someone sent me a copy of this book...what a find. Whether you're into Blues greats of the 50's and 60's, or just into good photography, this is worthwhile. Some of the greatest black and white photographs I have seen. Puts your right in the smokey clubs of South Chicago, and in the artists' face. Sensitively accomplished and carefully assembled after 40 years. Photographer Raeburn Flerlage had a remarkable feel for the soul of the music, and a love of these peformers, and was granted unusual access to their lives. It shows in the photos, both candid and peformance, if there is a difference here. A lovingly crafted collection, and a time capsule of a age fled, a city now changed, that gave us an American art form. Done by a photographer with the soul of a poet. Excellent notes by Flerlage, now in his eighties. For music lovers, a must have. Ditto fans of Chicago.

this is the possibly the best Arcadia/Images of America book I've seen from the series. The selection and quality of the photography (mostly historic photos) is wonderful, and the captions tell a great story of Chicago. I find myself often thumbing through it over and over to look at the photos. Highly recommended!

I grew up in Chicago but have been in San Francisco for 23 years now - this book had some great photos and descriptions that brought me back to the very streets I grew up on.

Plus, after being somewhat obsessed with Devil in the White City, it was great to finally see some photos of what that actually looked like (photos that I thought were sadly lacking in the original book).

The paperback format makes it easily consumable and very gift-worthy.

Hard work went into this book! Both the text and pictures were extremely thought out. Would like to see the author expand and put out more books on Chicago classical architecture as the city is loaded with great classical buildings. For the price the book makes a great gift item.

This novel was not only informative as a historical referrence of Chicago's history, but I used it as a guidebook while plotting what sites to see in this wonderful City!

Impressive how David Stone was able to collect photos of the White City faster than Google could. The photographic research is apparent. Narrated neighborhood to neighborhood by someone who has obviously contemplated his native Chicago. This is one worthy history lesson.

Also makes a complementary sidedish to The Devil In The White City. Here are the photos you were dying to see of the Fairgrounds while reading the murder mystery.

This book not only maps out the territory of advanced Capitalism, but it provides a political philosophy that is a "Negri beyond Negri". Although Dyer-Witheford draws a lot of ideas from Antonio Negri and the Italian autonomist tradition, he surpasses them with his excellent analysis of postindustrial capital. Moreover, Negri's most recent work (with Michael Hardt), "Empire" falls short of Dyer-Witheford's "Cyber-Marx" which is more realistic, practical, concise and defensible than Negri has ever been. This book is worth buying by anyone interested in the realities of technological society.

I had an urge to go back to readings on politics after September 11th tragedy... So I bought a few books from Amazon and Autonomedia. Spent Christmas time reading them with an almost furiouos enthusiasm!
As a 49 years artist, european and ex-trotskyst wandering along the late capitalism pathway of illusions, I found this book an absolute must for anyone trying to do a map of the present state of humankind.
It is most probably the best portrait of post-marxism and neo-marxism done in the last twenty years. Systematic, well balanced, straithforward, wit and very very humanistic.
I think that this canadian leftist - Nick Dyer-Witheford - deserves an urgent translation of his book to french, spanish, portuguese and chinese as soon as possible...

"Cyber Marx" by Nick Dyer-Whitheford is a brilliant Marxist analysis and critique of the economy of technology in late capitalism. The author shreds the techno-booster utopian visions of theorists such as Alvin Toffler to expose today's information society for what it really represents: namely, a post-Fordist attempt by capital to deepen and extend its dominance, control and repression as never before.

Mr. Dyer-Witheford presents evidence that the information infrastructure used to coordinate global production and consumption chains might also provide subversive opportunities to the disenfranchised, who may ultimately choose to develop new social structures existing beyond the control of capital. In this manner, the author believes that the surplus value produced by machines could be used to institute a guaranteed wage, a communication commons, and a revived democracy.

On the other hand, Mr. Dyer-Witheford acknowledges that technology might be used by fascists to spread hate and intolerance, and cautions us that this possibility should not be taken lightly. As the social costs of capitalism increase for ever larger segments of the world's population, it is possible that an under-educated public may be led by self-serving leaders to turn violently against themselves. The author's optimism that people will choose to strive for peace and justice, however, distinguishes his work from the pessimistic tone that sometimes suffuses the work of other postmodernists and contemporary European Marxist scholars.

Mr. Dyer-Whitheford's cogent analysis provides clarity to readers seeking insight into the dynamics of post-industrial society. Let's hope that this important work gets the attention it deserves and provides guidance to those who may be wish to build a more humane and just society. Highly recommended.

This superb book not only takes elements of Marx's legacy and makes them contemporary in a prose embraced enthusiastically by undergraduates. It also lists four sites of struggle within a visions of 'circuits of struggle.' These four are

1. struggle at the site of production (usually waged work)
2. struggle at the point of reproduction (women producing people and labour power, students being educated...);
3. struggle at the interface of nature and people (eco-feminism, water, air, forests and indigenous knowledge, seeds, terminator biotechnology and the like); and finally
4. struggle at the site of consumption (GMO foods, labels on foods, carcinogens and war-related poisoning of people and the ecosystem and the like).

The power of this complex analysis of peoples' resistance to corporate profit making is situated in its capacity to unite the thousands of different (formerly called 'single-issue') struggles into one international movement to 'globalize from below' or to build a new 'subsistence society' worldwide centred on the satisfaction of human and ecological needs rather than the production of profit or as John McMurtry (see his forthcoming Value Wars, Pluto, 2002, or 'the Cancer Stage of Capitalism, Pluto, London, 1999)calls 'money demand.'

This book is, for me, one of the top ten pieces of brilliant, committed scholarship, ever. It is in the tradition of both CLR James and the Italian autonomistas, notably Antonio Negri and Maria Rosa Dalla Costa.

This is a masterwork; a unique and nearly comprehensive view of Marxism appropriate for our times. Nick avoids dogma and certainly eliminates all vestiges of teleology. The absence of dogma is indicated by the wide variety of sources that are tied together with a strong square knot. Optimistic yet realistic, this book is a must for all progressives and all who give a damn about human and Earth survival. I would have liked to see more on neutralizing militarism; if he has ideas on this I hope he writes them up.

Addendum 12/6/02 -- Why aren't more people discussing this superb work?

this book isn't just for girls even though the cover would make you think that. its for anybody who didn't know what to do or where to go after college. its funny and it makes you think.

I got this book on recommendation from a friend and loved it! The people that you meet in this book are unforgettable. I laughed, learned about different worldviews (some very different - check out chapter on "a new angle"), and thoroughly enjoyed this read.

I picked this up as an impulse buy and once I started reading it, had trouble putting it down. As a recent college graduate working a retail job, I understand the frustration of not having a job in your major. Jennifer's story is great for recent college graduates and anyone who isn't sure what direction his or her life is taking and wonders "Is this really all meaningful?" This book will show you that no matter your circumstance, you're really not alone, and things really can work out in the end.

I found myself completely immersed in this book from the author's opening comments. Her engaging descriptions of people she meets along her life's path along with her raw honesty and sense of humor make this book a wonderful read. The author asks questions about life in the post college zone that are refreshingly real and vulnerable. This book is smart, witty, and speaks to the heart of those searching for life's meaning among seemingly unconnected experiences. Highly recommended.

Fantastic! A hilarious and eye-opening page-turner. This book kept me wanting more with every chapter. I love how the author reveals her honest perspective about the world she's found herself in the middle of. She skillfully describes this world full of fascinating (to say the least) people and experiences, just waiting to change her life in subtle, powerful ways. Everyone can relate to this book somehow: have you ever wondered why you're in the place you're in? What crazy lessons life is trying to teach you? Been amused by intriguingly random interactions? Frustrated with choices you've made? With Faith and the City, you'll be reminded that life's possibilities pop up in the most perplexing places. I highly recommend this book.

I've been using this guide to Chicago since I recently moved here, and I've found it answers many questions and given me great advice on what to see and where to go. I highly recommend it for anyone spending time in the city.

excellent book - great presentation, well written, super photographs. much information that can really be used while at the same time being highly readable. wouldn't think of arriving in chicago without it!

excellent book - great presentation, well written, super photographs. much information that can really be used while at the same time being highly readable. wouldn't think of arriving in chicago without it!

This thoughtfully written and informative guide answers all the questions that a traveler would have before setting off for Chicago. In fact, it would benefit someone who has lived in Chicago for many years. The author's knowledge of what it is like to live in Chicago - as opposed to simply knowing something about the attractions, restaurants, hotels, etc. - sets this guide apart from others.

I moved to Chicago a few months ago, and so I was able to road-test this book extensively. I found it to be an invaluable resource to just about anything going on in the Windy City. You can feel that the author lived here for an extensive period of time. As with most big cities, things change fast in Chicago, so I am eagerly awaiting the second edition!

Jenny Floro-Khalaf and Cynthia Savaglio have done a marvelous job with this Images of America volume. They don't rely on the procession of beautiful, crisp images to tell the stories of the political, social, and underworld figures buried in the Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries. The accompanying text is written in a clear and concise style that yields more information than the mere captions I've seen in other volumes of this sort. Highly recommended.

This small book is richly illustrated with the architecture of the cemeteries. The reader also gets insights into the customs involved in funerals. For instance, visiting the cemetery was once a regular Sunday-afternoon outing, and the Catholic Church lifted the ban on cremations in 1963.

Both famous and non-famous people are buried in these graves. Many are children who died at a time when child mortality had still been common. Those interred include sports figures such as Elmer "Moose" Vasko of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Father Martin Jenco, a onetime Beirut hostage. It is sobering to realize that the grave of Al Capone not only gets visited, but also that people leave such things as cigars, cash, and religious medals on it (p. 59).

Considerable detail is devoted to the aftermath of the Our Lady of the Angels School Fire of December 1958 (pp. 91-98). There are many photos of the victims and the funerals. All 3 of the nuns killed, along with 11 children, are buried at Mount Carmel. Another 45 children are buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. This leaves 36 child victims buried elsewhere.

This is a fantastic book! As a historian, I've always been intrigued by graveyards and wondered at the stories contained under old granite headstones. The monuments and mausoleums of these adjoining Catholic cemeteries in suburban Hillside provide a unique glimpse into the past century of Chicago's colorful and tragic past. The Iroquois Theatre Fire, the Stockyard Fire of 1910, the Eastland disaster, the 1918 flu epidemic, Chicago war veterans, and much more are woven into this wonderful photo history of Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries. The first five internments at Mount Carmel were all children, a ghastly reminder of infant mortality rates in the early 20th Century. There's the fascinating story of the funeral train, a necessity that arose from the difficulties of transporting bodies by horse drawn wagons across the city to the western suburbs. And, of course, there are the many legendary mobsters, which much of the world regard as symbolic of, if not synonymous to, Chicago. Al Capone, Dean O'Banion, Hymie Weiss, the Gennas, "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn, Vincent "The Schemer" Drucci, Mike Merlo, Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, Willie Heeney, Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo, Paul "The Waiter" Ricca, Sam Giancana, and many others lie there. Probably no other graveyard on earth contains so many imposing crypts of notorious gangsters, often deadly enemies in life but now reposing peacefully side by side. Chicago's history is embedded with all those buried here, good and evil, and is marvelously reincarnated by Jenny Khalaf and Cynthia Savaglio in this fine work.

Prowling cemeteries searching for the graves of the famous and infamous is cheap and enlightening entertainment. I have to admit my main interest in this book was chapter four entitled "Gangsters in Granite." I have visited Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemetery twice in search of the graves of the infamous gangsters from the 1920's and found all but one, Machine Gun Jack McGurn even though I knew what stone to look for. Jack is supposed to be located somewhere in Section O. This book includes all of those whose graves I took photos of with a nice description of each. I would have liked if the graves of Roger Touhy and Jake Lingle had been in the book as well. Both men also reside at Mount Carmel. It is well to keep in mind that behind the name of each stone is a story even though it may not be well known to the world. For those looking for Al Capone enter the cemetery from Roosevelt Road. To the right the name "Capone" is hidden behind some shrubbery. Just a pop fly away as you enter the cemetery and turn to the left is the grave of Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti or "Nitto" on the headstone. Near the Bishops' monument are the graves of several other bootleggers who met an early demise. Kudos to the individuals who put this book together.

As an amateur history/crime buff and cemetery enthusiast, I made 2 pilgrimages to Chicago in the early to mid 90's, and a major part of the reason was to visit this historic cemetery, the mid-west counterpart to St. John's in Queens, NY...popularly known as the "Mafia's Boot Hill" (the other major reason was to visit the Biograph Theatre, which is still in operation and is the place where John Dillinger met his end in 1934). On the first trip, I was unable to find Al Capone's grave and called the front office to enquire as to its location. They were polite, but firm in their unwillingness to enlighten me. Finding the tombs of Dion O'Banion, Hymie Weiss, and the Genna brothers was relatively easy but Big Al remained elusive. On the second trip, I used a photograph from the then-recent biography by Robert Schoenberg as a guide (tomb is near an iron fence in the photo), and some instinct, or maybe it was Al's ghostly influence, guided me almost immediately to its location near the elaborate front gate. Obviously, a lot of other people had found it too, as most of the grass in front of it had been worn away. It was discouraging in the extreme to learn that proper respect or decency to the dead (whether Al Capone or anyone else) hadn't been shown and that Al's gravestone had twice been stolen. As I stepped away to unobtrusively (and respectfully) take a picture, a black Cadillac pulled up, and a young muscular guy helped an older gentleman with 2 canes out of the car and over to the grave to pay his respects. Was he an old associate and friend? A rich eccentric? Who knows? My only complaint with the book is that it neglects to showcase the tombs of other notorious figures buried there, including those of Tony the Ant Spilotro, Turk Torello, Fiore Buccieri and Mad Sam DeStefano (all of whom I was able to locate without the difficulty that attended the finding of Mr. Capone's final resting place). I spent hours in this magnificent cemetery but could have spent days, and I guess the same thing could be said for this book. No matter how thick or packed with photos, it still probably would not be sufficient for some. Having said that, it's still a wonderfully-illustrated, exhaustively-researched tome and should be in the library of everyone interested in historic cemeteries, architecture, art and sculpture, the religious and ethnic heritage of the city...even if you've never been near Chicago and don't ever intend to. Even if you're not interested in the notorious figures buried here (or some of the distinguished clergymen), it's still a beautiful and aesthetically-fascinating cemetery and this book is a worthy tribute to it and the people buried there.