The Dynamite Club : How a Bombing in Fin-de-Siècle Paris Ignited the Age of Modern Terror

Merriman, John

ISBN 10: 0618555986 / ISBN 13: 9780618555987

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2009

Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 5022987-6

Synopsis:

The fascinating story of a long-forgotten "war on terror" that has much in common with our own

On a February evening in 1894, a young radical intellectual named Émile Henry drank two beers at an upscale Parisian restaurant, then left behind a bomb as a parting gift. This incident, which rocked the French capital, lies at the heart ofThe Dynamite Club, a mesmerizing account of Henry and his cohorts and the war they waged against the bourgeoisiesetting off bombs in public places, killing the president of France, and eventually assassinating President McKinley in 1901.

Paris in the belle époque was a place of leisure, elegance, and power. Newly electrified, the city’s wide boulevards were lined with posh department stores and outdoor cafés. But prosperity was limited to a few. Most lived in dire poverty, and workers and intellectuals found common cause in a political philosophyanarchismthat embraced the overthrow of the state by any means necessary.

Yet in targeting civilians to achieve their ends, the dynamite bombers charted a new course. Seeking martyrdom, believing fervently in their goal, and provoking a massive government reaction that only increased their ranks, these "evildoers" became, in effect, the first terrorists in modern history.

Surprising and provocative, The Dynamite Club is a brilliantly researched account that illuminates a period of dramatic social and political changeand subtly asks us to reflect upon our own.

About the Author:

 JOHN MERRIMAN is the Charles Seymour Professor of History at Yale University. He is the author of many books, including the classic History of Modern Europe and The Stones of Balazuc. He lives with his family in Connecticut and Balazuc, France.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Dynamite Club : How a Bombing in ...
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Publication Date: 2009
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Edition: 1st Edition.