Recommendations needed: The Gilded Age to WW1

dgaughran · Feb 19, 2011

Hi,

I'm doing some research for a new novel. Can anyone recommend a good history book (or other resource) for the period from The Gilded Age up to the outbreak of World War 1? I have particular interest in anything focused on the ordinary lives of people, rather than great men and famous events. Anything on New Orleans during this period would be especially useful.

Thanks,

Dave

Puma · Feb 20, 2011

From your New Orleans reference, I assume you mean in the US - is that correct? Puma

dgaughran · Feb 20, 2011

Yes - sorry if that wasn't more apparent.

P.S. Is The Gilded Age a U.S. specific term?

Vito · Feb 20, 2011

dgaughran said:
P.S. Is The Gilded Age a U.S. specific term?

As far as I know, the term is specific to the United States. I think the term "late Victorian" identifies the era in Great Britain, and I suppose other terms are used for other nations and cultures.

Two fairly recent history books on the Gilded Age (and the Progressive movement that followed it) are A Fierce Discontent by Michael McGerr and Standing At Armageddon by Nell Irvin Painter. I read Painter's book for a university course, and recently purchased McGerr's book. They're both a little dry and academic, but they have a pretty good balance of social history and political history.

I'm not familiar with any books about New Orleans during the Gilded Age, so you might need to use Google to research the notable events that happened in that city during those years -- the 1891 mob lynchings of Italian immigrants, for example.

Puma · Feb 20, 2011

Actually, we used to have a songbook, Songs of the Gilded Age and that always made me think of St. Louis and the World's Fair.

Possible helps - Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

My other thought would be to do some looking on genealogical sites for New Orleans and Parishes near New Orleans to see if there are any memoirs, first hand accounts, even estate records that might give you a feel for what life was like for the common folk. There is stuff like that out there on the web. You might start with www.rootsweb.com and go from there. Puma

Lil · Feb 20, 2011

THeodore Dresier

dgaughran · Feb 21, 2011

Great tips guys. I have a lot of reading ahead of me. Upton Sinclair's book sounds particularly excellent.

Thanks,

Dave

PastMidnight · Feb 21, 2011

For a good general resource on the time, I highly recommend Thomas Schlereth's Victorian America: Transformations in Everyday Life, 1876-1915. Chapters on Moving, Working, Housing, Consuming, Communicating, Playing, Striving, Living, and Dying.

Have recently picked up a copy of Diana Claitor's 100 Years Ago: The Glorious 1890s, which looks to be a great source for photographs of the time.

I haven't read anything specific to New Orleans at that time.

dgaughran · Feb 21, 2011

Thanks - that Victorian America book is exactly what I'm looking for

oldhousejunkie · Feb 22, 2011

You will want to take into account that New Orleans is and was a different culture. While some standard Victorian morals and social niceties may come into play, the Creole culture affected a lot.

"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin takes place (and was written) in turn of the century New Orleans. She has other short stories as well that would give you a good view of the society in that time period. There is a comprehensive listing at: www.katechopin.org.

Also Tennessee Williams (although he was writing in the 30s and 40s) and George Washington Cable.

I don't know if you need info on the prostitute culture in NOLA, but "Storyville" by Lois Battle is fascinating. It's interesting because one of the main characters is a feminist, well educated yankee who marries a wealthy Creole. She is always at odds with the culture (turn of the century New Orleans) specifically the general acceptance of wealthy men having extramarital relations. The novel is based upon a non-fiction book of the same name by Al Rose.

Good luck!

Hip-Hop-a-potamus · Feb 23, 2011

I read a novel about Buddy Bolden several years ago, but I can NOT remember the name of it. He was one of the first figures of New Orleans jazz, and was working about that time. If you can find any books about him (novel or non-fiction), they may be very helpful for the favor and the detail of Storyville.

There was also a New Orleans axe murderer at work about that time. Might make an interesting back story or mention:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axeman_of_New_Orleans

Good luck!
HH

pfunk · Feb 24, 2011

If you're looking for the flavor of New Orleans at the turn of the century, you may want to look into some of Alice Dunbar-Nelson's works.

dgaughran · Feb 24, 2011

Thanks for the tips guys - all great - it's appreciated

Dave

words66 · Mar 6, 2011

TR :The Last Romantic (T Roosevelt) by HW Brands

Mrs. Russell Sage: Women's Activism and Philanthropy in Guilded Age and Progressive Era by Ruth Crocker

The Human Tradition in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era by Ballard C. Campbell

one of my favorite political figures: William Jennings Bryan
A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan by Michael Kazin

Waterfront Workers of New Orleans: Race, Class and Politics, 1863-1923 by Eric Arnesen

Hope this helps

dgaughran · Mar 9, 2011

Sorry words66 - I didn't realise you had posted, something funny is going on with my notifications.

Thanks for posting some more tips, I will check them out for the next round of purchases, the Waterfront Workers one sounds particularly interesting.

Thanks,

Dave

P.S. If anyone is interested, the first of my books arrived this week and The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and Storyville, New Orleans by Al Rose look particularly good.

words66 · Mar 10, 2011

How long did it take you to write your 1st chapter?

dgaughran · Mar 11, 2011

Hey,

If you are referring to the line in my signature, that refers to my previous novel. I have written a few chapters of the new novel, but they are very rough and I expect them to change quite a bit by the end.

Dave

dgaughran · Mar 12, 2011

words66 - is that the same William Jennings Bryan who participated in the Stokes trial (the Darwinism/Evolution trial in the 20s)?

Hip-Hop-a-potamus · Mar 12, 2011

dg- It was the Scopes trial, not the Stokes trial. Just FYI.

dgaughran · Mar 13, 2011

There are about seven different reasons why I should know that, so I am going to blame it all on an elaborate typo.

Dave

words66 · Mar 13, 2011

yes Daughran, it is. I agree mainly with his political views on the silver standard and fighting for farmers and common people.

dgaughran · Mar 13, 2011

Hey words66 - He sounds like a very interesting character.

I studied that "Monkey Trial" in college, and a subsequent re-run in the 80s (McLean vs Arkansas), which is the only trial that I am aware of where a philosopher was called as an expert witness. Fascinating.

words66 · Mar 20, 2011

DGuaughran, I like the chapter, it provides some everyday life while explaining its greater context. Is it going to be published?

dgaughran · Mar 21, 2011

I hope so. I have a few fulls and partials out with agents at the moment, and have spoken on the phone to a couple, but no-one has offered representation yet.

words66 · Mar 21, 2011

How much work are they looking for, when you send stuff out? I have confidence someone will pick it up.

Recommendations needed: The Gilded Age to WW1

dgaughran

Puma

Retired and loving it!

dgaughran

Vito

Recalled to life

Puma

Retired and loving it!

Lil

dgaughran

PastMidnight

Oponionated

dgaughran

oldhousejunkie

Hip-Hop-a-potamus

My rhymes are bottomless

pfunk

dgaughran

words66

dgaughran

words66

dgaughran

dgaughran

Hip-Hop-a-potamus

My rhymes are bottomless

dgaughran

words66

dgaughran

words66

dgaughran

words66