Making Sense of the Molly Maguires by Kevin Kenny
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Book Reviews of Making Sense of the Molly Maguires
Book Review: Social Violence
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a long and complex book. However, it should not dissuade those that are interested in how some people can be driven to feel their only choice is violence. When the political, social, judicial, religious, and economic institutions of the elite are used to suppress some will react violently. The urban riots of the 60's and most recently in Cincinnati are examples of the desperation that can turn to violence and destruction when people feel they have no legal recourse. The book illustrates how the Molly's methods of violence and intimidation were transferred from Ireland to the United States. The Molly's were not a Mafia organization. The combination of the anti-labor press and powerful corporate interests refused to explore why the Molly's came into being. It was easy to sell to the American Public that the Molly's were a criminal organization or anarchists, who deserved to be hanged. The press of the mid 19th century was not interested in telling the story of why the Molly's existed. Answering why does not justify murder. The line is very gray from terrorism, and rebellion to patriot at times.Book Review: Secret Societies Knee-Deep in Coal Dust
Summary: 3 Stars
One of the better interpretations of this turbulant era in the coal belt. Kevin Kenny explores the complicated society relationships and both factual and circumstantial evidence that led to the the conviction of some of the ringleaders. Unlike the 1970 movie "The Molly MacGuires," this book assures the reader that series of violent events over a number of years was no simple story to tell. The subsequent convictions of some of the coal miner leaders was hotly contested in its day. Add this book to your collection if you are a student of 1800's Pennsylvania or the treatment of Irish immigrant miners during the period of the Molly MacGuires.Book Review: knowledge can be enjoyable
Summary: 1 Stars
How is it possible that the Molly Maguires could be made boring! It's about real life and real people! History is exciting. This book is a cold and lifeless list-the way many of us were taught history in school. I wanted to learn about the Molly Maguires but this book was a disaster. The print was very small-get a magnifying glass-I'm serious.Were I taking a course in school and this was one of the textbooks and I had a decent professor then thats ok. This reads like some long boring detailed document.There should be some sort of warning. I'm not blaming any one but somewhere there should be an explanation about not just if a given reader liked a book but what kind of book it is.
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