Perfect Cities: Chicago's Utopias of 1893
Gilbert, James
ISBN 10: 0226293173 ISBN 13: 9780226293172
Published by University Of Chicago Press, 1991
Used
Hardcover
From
World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since 20 December 2007
This specific item is no longer available.
About this Item
Description:
Good condition ex-library book with usual library markings and stickers. Seller Inventory # 00100590159
Synopsis:
In this elegant and sensitive look at the milieu of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, James Gilbert examines the three utopias that were designed to bring order to the chaos of urban life: The World's Fair itself, George Pullman's community for his workers, and Dwight Moody's evangelical crusade. Gilbert draws upon a rich selection of fiction, collective biography, architecture, photographs, and souvenir books to show how these experiments each acted as a middle-class prescription for coming to terms with the new cultural diversity and competition resulting from the disruptive forces of technological change, commercial enterprise, and pluralism.
"Mr. Gilbert's splendid book opens the door on a conflicted past, and provides an indispensable perspective on the troubled and troubling struggle we face today between old and new, unity and diversity."--Alan Trachtenberg, New York Times
"Perfect Cities is a remarkable account of a struggle for cultural definition. Chronicling the byplay between cultural homogeneity and heterogeneity, unity and diversity, James Gilbert not only throws light on Chicago's past but also provides insight that can be applied to the cultural debates of our own time."--Adria Bernardi, Chicago Tribune
"What Gilbert has done is to enable the reader to experience the grand utopian visions of the times, yet at the same time see the cantankerous reality that made the visions impossible."--Henry Kisor, Chicago Sun-Times
"Mr. Gilbert's splendid book opens the door on a conflicted past, and provides an indispensable perspective on the troubled and troubling struggle we face today between old and new, unity and diversity."--Alan Trachtenberg, New York Times
"Perfect Cities is a remarkable account of a struggle for cultural definition. Chronicling the byplay between cultural homogeneity and heterogeneity, unity and diversity, James Gilbert not only throws light on Chicago's past but also provides insight that can be applied to the cultural debates of our own time."--Adria Bernardi, Chicago Tribune
"What Gilbert has done is to enable the reader to experience the grand utopian visions of the times, yet at the same time see the cantankerous reality that made the visions impossible."--Henry Kisor, Chicago Sun-Times
From the Back Cover: In this elegant and sensitive look at the milieu of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, James Gilbert examines the three utopias that were designed to bring order to the chaos of urban life: The World's Fair itself, George Pullman's community for his workers, and Dwight Moody's evangelical crusade.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Bibliographic Details
Title: Perfect Cities: Chicago's Utopias of 1893
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Publication Date: 1991
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good