Blumenthal,
Karen. Tommy:
The Gun That Changed America. Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press 2015 232p $19.99 ISBN 978-1-62672-084-8 ms/hs
Nonfiction E-BN
The history of the Thompson submachine
gun, which was conceived during World War I but did not see the light of day
until the war ended, is detailed in this well-written, entertaining and
informative book. Blumenthal begins by
discussing the Gatling gun, the antecedent of the Tommy, and, using a zippy, upbeat writing style, she
continues to discuss the creation and manufacture of the Thompson, gun-running
to the Irish Republican Army, prohibition and the history of the bootleggers,
Al Capone and 1920s and 1930s gangsterism, the FBI, and the legacy of gun
violence in America today. Except for
the prologue, the chapters follow a strict chronological order and each chapter
is fascinating. It is incredibly
interesting to read American history as told from the point of view of a piece
of technology, and it should make the history that much more interesting for
the reluctant reader. There are also
plenty of black-and-white photographs illustrating every aspect of the history
along the way, from the factories where the first Tommys were produced to
stills of James Cagney playing Al Capone in the movies. The author also provides numerous references,
notes, acknowledgements, picture credits, and a good index. Altogether a very satisfying read.
Summary: The history of the
Thompson submachine gun, which was conceived during World War I but did not see
the light of day until the day the war ended, is detailed in this well-written,
entertaining and informative book.
Guns, Firearms --Carol
Kennedy
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