Making Sense of the Molly Maguires by Kevin Kenny
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Book Reviews of Making Sense of the Molly Maguires
Book Review: Excellent, very well-researched book
Summary: 5 Stars
A very well-researched and detailed account of the Molly Maguires in Pennsylvania. Cuts through the myths and concentrates on the facts. Gives a very good depiction of life in the coal region at the time (much of the language, culture, etc. is still present in the region today). Also good background information on the Mollies origins in Ireland. A very scholarly work.Book Review: The best book on the subject done so far.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Molly Maguire Era is one of the most tangled and complex in United States history. Kevin Kenny has done a masterful job of untangling the complexities and cross currents involved here. There was more evil than enough on both sides of the conflict. New evidence compiled in the last twenty years puts a very different light on this woeful period of American history.Book Review: The who, what and why of the Mollies finally explained.
Summary: 5 Stars
The who, what and why of the Mollies has been muddied by time and myth. Kenny clarifys the mud and myth in this straightforward, honest assessment of the Molly Maguires and those who were obsessed with their demise. A truly excellent work and a must for anyone interested in Molly lore.Book Review: Kenny really did his homework
Summary: 5 Stars
His explanation of the beginning of the union and the people it involved was very clear.There were a lot of details on the exploitation of mineworkers of that era. This is a one the best on the subject.Book Review: Flawed But Still Informative
Summary: 4 Stars
All in all a very good, if at times flawed book. First the flaw, the author comes close on several occassions to advancing the premise that the Molly's didn't exist, only blindness or lack of courage (fear of criticism perhaps) stops him. Author does a good job of citing the Irish tradition of retributive justice as a origin of Molly Maguireism yet somehow misses the deeper none too subtle subtext of his own citation; in particular the arrest in Donegal of two men for Molly violence and the resulting disappearence of further violence. Hardly proof of a massive criminal conspiracy that would follow the Irish to America, but is proof of spontaneous orginization at a very low level to advance retributive justice. Author would benifit for reading Conley's, Melancholy Accidents. See:
http://www.amazon.com/Melancholy-Accidents-Meaning-Violence-Post-Famine/dp/0739100076/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280851979&sr=1-1
On the upside, while the conclusions were at times so painfuly nuanced as to seem pointless, the history seems honestly presented. Perhaps the author is confident the truth does not have to be stated overtly as it is made so plain through the simple recitation of facts. For those unaware, a private corporation instituted the investigation by using a detective agency, said agency plants spys in the community (only one whom discovers a plot) a private police force arrests the men who are then prosecuted by coal company lawyers.The State then hangs them. The Molly's were a frightening example of unconstrained capitalism crushing the weak (I'm a right wing nut if you wonder). In this case most of the Molly Maguireism was a construct used to destroy unionism in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania. I'm sure there was some legit examples of retributive justice but most of the accepted narrative is false
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