Flesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Albert Marrin Published by Random House Children's Books on November 14th 2011
Pages: 192
Source: Library
Goodreads
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City burst into flames. The factory was crowded. The doors were locked to ensure workers stay inside. One hundred forty-six people—mostly women—perished; it was one of the most lethal workplace fires in American history until September 11, 2001.
But the story of the fire is not the story of one accidental moment in time. It is a story of immigration and hard work to make it in a new country, as Italians and Jews and others traveled to America to find a better life. It is the story of poor working conditions and greedy bosses, as garment workers discovered the endless sacrifices required to make ends meet. It is the story of unimaginable, but avoidable, disaster. And it the story of the unquenchable pride and activism of fearless immigrants and women who stood up to business, got America on their side, and finally changed working conditions for our entire nation, initiating radical new laws we take for granted today.
With Flesh and Blood So Cheap, Albert Marrin has crafted a gripping, nuanced, and poignant account of one of America's defining tragedies.
My Thoughts:
After reading Kids on Strike! I decided to finally pick up a book I’ve been meaning to read since I first head about it: Flesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy. I remember hearing about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in high school and being horrified. For some reason it just stuck with me. I was really interested in reading this book and am glad I finally got to it.
First things first, this book was not exactly what I expected. I thought it’d be focused more on the fire and the victims… perhaps the days leading up to the event and the days after. It covers so much more than that. In Flesh and Blood So Cheap Marrin explores the world and events that created a situation where something like this tragedy could happen. He goes as far as looking at the reasons people immigrated to the US. He looks at the political situation, at how poverty and greed played a hand, at so many other factors. The actual fire takes up very little of the book. The fallout from the tragedy and the ways it changed the country are also explored. I found it all fascinating. My only complaint would be that I really did want more stories about the people who worked at the factory… those who survived and those who didn’t.
If you’re interested in history or learning more about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire I highly suggest this title. Very interesting.
Annie Schneiderman Valliere
On the eve of the 14th anniversary of the Triangle Fire I find your wonderful YA website and your thoughts about “Flesh and Blood”. I have some recommendations for you and others who want more details of what it was like in the Triangle factory and others like it. Also more details on the Uprising of the 20,000. There are two books, one I would say is a middle level fiction but is well researched historical fiction “Uprising”, by Haddix, 2011. She puts the Triangle Fire first and the Uprising following the fire, but otherwise it is mostly accurate. The other was published in1998, a YA non fiction book, “We Shall Not Be Moved”, by Joan Dash, an account of the Uprising. There are also many primary sources on line which can bring us right into the personal experiences of factory workers, survivors of the fire and the later Triangle court hearings.
The Uprising of the 20,000 in 1909 and the Triangle Shirt Waist Fire are important events for high school students to know about. I am excited that these and other events in our countries history are now being studied in high school history classes.
I am writing a biography of Rose Schneiderman one of the significant players in these events and other ongoing progressive activities of the times. These are topics that are close to my heart as I am a grand niece of Schneiderman and knew her as a tiny elderly woman. She would be so happy that there is so much interest and thought about such an important time in our history.
Annie Schneiderman Valliere (Website coming this Summer.)
Annie Schneiderman Valliere
I am very sorry. I meant to say, On the eve of the 104 anniversary of the Triangle Fire!
I wish I was able to correct the error!