'Slaves of the Depression: Workers' Letters about Life on the Job

Markowitz, Gerald and David Rosner, Editors

ISBN 10: 0801494648 / ISBN 13: 9780801494642

Published by Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1987, 1987

About this Item

Soft Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. First Paperback Edition. Slightly sunned spine.

Seller Inventory # 000455

Bibliographic Details

• Title: 'Slaves of the Depression: Workers' Letters about Life on the Job
• Publisher: Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1987
• Publication Date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801494648
• ISBN 13: 9780801494642
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • Labor History

About this title

Synopsis

Book by Markowitz, Gerald, Rosner, David

Reviews

This is not another oral history of the Great Depression. Instead, using Robert McElvaine's appro a ch in Down and Out in the Great Depression ( LJ 2/15/83), the editors examined thousands of letters written to government officials and found them a valuable source of evidence. However, here the focus is on those who kept their jobs rather than on the unemployed. The recurring themes of risky working conditions and fear of unemployment are seen in many of the letters. Less convincing is the editors' interpretationthat many workers were greatly alienated from the economic system. The extraordinary faith in FDR comes through clearly, however. Not as engaging as McElvaine's book, but valuable for a different perspective on the Depression. Charles K. Piehl, Associate Dean, Arts and Humanities, Mankato State Univ., Minn.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.