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Available
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New York
User reviews
LibraryThing member Zumbanista
Hot Corn: Life Scenes in New York (1854) by Solon Robinson first appeared as a serial in the New York Tribune newspaper. Each short story is interconnected and sets forth the backgrounds of the many various characters the author introduces us to.
This is a collection of temperance stories detailing
The writing style appears florid and melodramatic to this modern reader, but totally in keeping with the style of the day. The message is hammered home loudly and repeatedly. The villainous characters seem stereotyped, but the object of the writer is to make his point, and in this he is successful.
The desperate poverty and depravity are heartbreaking in this era of no social safety nets. Everyone is excoriated: the wealthy upper classes, saloon keepers, corrupt police, the Church, greedy landlords and businessmen, husbands, wives and mothers.
We see the seamy side of pre Civil War NYC. Every chapter includes examples of the despicable nature of men and women on the downward spiral to the bottom of society through demon drink.
There is a path to redemption once one signs and adheres to the Pledge. The Missionary and those saved from the brink go about doing their good works but are not always successful in saving the children and their dying mothers.
The narrative skipped around a fair bit and it seemed the same story was retold with different characters in each chapter. That, combined with the style of writing began to tire me as the book neared its end.
While I hadn't come looking for a temperance book, it made for interesting reading, something more of a historical curiosity than a totally pleasurable or straightforward reading experience.
This is a collection of temperance stories detailing
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in a rather lurid and sensationalist manner the sins of drinking - particularly rum. The writing style appears florid and melodramatic to this modern reader, but totally in keeping with the style of the day. The message is hammered home loudly and repeatedly. The villainous characters seem stereotyped, but the object of the writer is to make his point, and in this he is successful.
The desperate poverty and depravity are heartbreaking in this era of no social safety nets. Everyone is excoriated: the wealthy upper classes, saloon keepers, corrupt police, the Church, greedy landlords and businessmen, husbands, wives and mothers.
We see the seamy side of pre Civil War NYC. Every chapter includes examples of the despicable nature of men and women on the downward spiral to the bottom of society through demon drink.
There is a path to redemption once one signs and adheres to the Pledge. The Missionary and those saved from the brink go about doing their good works but are not always successful in saving the children and their dying mothers.
The narrative skipped around a fair bit and it seemed the same story was retold with different characters in each chapter. That, combined with the style of writing began to tire me as the book neared its end.
While I hadn't come looking for a temperance book, it made for interesting reading, something more of a historical curiosity than a totally pleasurable or straightforward reading experience.
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