Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?: The Great Depression, 1929-1933 (A Vintage Sundial Book) - Softcover

Meltzer, Milton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0394708067 ISBN 13: 9780394708065

Publisher: Random House, 1973

Synopsis

Written by a team of prominent writers and distinguished historians, the Library of American History series weaves documents left behind by historical witnesses into dramatic narratives filled with vivid portraits of famous and ordinary people, place, and events. People long gone and struggles long past come to life again in the letters, diaries, songs, speeches, and official papers that compose the vital core of this remarkable series.Through the firsthand accounts of workers, farmers, sharecroppers, veterans, professionals, rich and poor, black and white, men and women, young and old, this volume details how this economic catastrophe affected the lives of millions of Americans.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Gr 7-12-- Meltzer focuses on the human reactions to the events of the Great Depression, and as such, draws heavily on first-hand accounts of those who experienced it. His narrative moves briskly from the '20s to the New Deal, covering the problems of the homeless and unemployed, the breadlines and bankruptcy. He reveals the despair and hopelessness of people who fell from relative comfort to complete poverty. This new edition of the book, which was originally published by Knopf in 1969, concludes with the rather pessimistic comment that the United States has ``declined'' into a service economy during the last decade, and that the gap between the ``haves'' and ``have-nots'' is widening. Songs by Woodie Guthrie and others are still included in this edition, but there are fewer photos than in the earlier version and they are not as clearly reproduced. The bibliography has been enlarged and brought up to date. Although several other books on the Depression are available, it's hard to beat Meltzer's collection of testimonials from those who lived through such terrible times. Students will find these accounts much more interesting than their textbooks; libraries not having the first edition will want this one. --Miriam Hansen, Indianhead Federated Library System, Eau Claire, WI

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House
• Publication date: 1973
• ISBN 10: 0394708067
• ISBN 13: 9780394708065
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 181