This is an important work in Boston’s historical canon that even casual followers of the city’s rich and often tragic history will appreciate. John E. Keefe’s historical account of The Pickwick Club Disaster describes the horror of the collapse of a swingin’ club in the heart of Boston’s Chinatown. It is hardcore nonfiction that reads with the taut precision of a blockbuster thriller. The first half of the book describes the collapse itself, including incredibly detailed accounts of its victims. The second half discusses the aftermath for the city and construction companies, noting the red tape that went all the way to the mayor’s office. Appendices provide a wealth of additional information.
On July 4, 1925, fireworks were popping, booze was flowing, and cops were having a hard time keeping order on the streets. At 3:00 a.m., the Pickwick Club, an infamous five-story speakeasy, collapsed with 125 people inside. Forty-four people died, including entertainer Johnny Duffy. At first, the dancing was blamed. Partiers were dancing the Charleston to the orchestra’s “Twelfth Street Rag” immediately before the collapse; Boston mayor James Michael Curley unsuccessfully attempted to ban the dance. Many area clubs were closed pending a safety inspection.
The care with which Keefe lays out each detail and explains what happened to everyone after the collapse indicates deep and infectious investment in the subject matter, and the integrity of the research is apparent. The text is easy to navigate; information is parceled out with exactitude. Its structure is effective for information retention, divided between an account of the event itself and exploration of its aftermath. Its style is conversational, relating history as a story rather than as a dry account.
The Pickwick Club Disaster
is an impeccably researched historical account certain to have wide appeal.
..... Foreword Clarion Reviews
(4 stars)