The Autobiography of Lincoln Steffens

by Lincoln Steffens

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Rediscover a man Americans turned to not only for news but for humor and wisdom as well. Growing up in Sacramento, Steffens (1866-1936) was an editor at the New York Evening Post, and later at McClure's Magazine. As popular as he was cantankerous, he brushed shoulders with presidents and corporate barons, tsars and dictators. His efforts to expose corruption took him all over the nation and on to Mexico, Europe, and the new Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, where he made his famous show more proclamation, "I have seen the future, and it works!" He would later become disenchanted with communism, and eventually he returned to California, to feel again its "warm, colorful force of beauty" and to write what would become this best-selling memori. Inspiring, entertaining, and lyrical, The Autobiography of Lincoln Steffens is the story of a brilliant reporter with a passion for examining the complex and contradictory conditions that breed corruption, poverty, and misery. Book jacket. show less

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2 reviews
This is a long read (884 pages), but if you like reading books about muckrakers, New York City, or newspaper reporting, this book is for you. I skimmed the beginning about Steffens's childhood, but read page after page of his account of a reporter's life in New York City in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Steffens had the crime beat and was chummy with Teddy Roosevelt, one of the Police Commissioners during the Reform Movement. He later touches base with Governor Roosevelt and then President Roosevelt. Steffens travelled to a number of cities and investigated the political machines for graft and corruption. I'm tempted to acquire the other books he wrote as well.
Inscribed, dated and signed by Steffens on front end page. Book is protected by a custom-designed book slip with a color illustration of The Shame of the Cities on both sides.

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18+ Works 464 Members

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Docktor, Irv (Illustrator)
Josephy, Robert S. (Typography)

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Canonical title
The Autobiography of Lincoln Steffens
People/Characters
Lincoln Steffens

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Genres
Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History
DDC/MDS
070.92Computer science, information & general worksNews media, journalism & publishingDocumentary media, educational media, news media; journalism; publishingBiography And HistoryBiographies
LCC
PN4874 .S68 .A3Language and LiteratureLiterature (General)Literature (General)Journalism. The periodical press, etc.By region or country
BISAC

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215
Popularity
151,796
Reviews
2
Rating
(4.00)
Languages
English
Media
Paper
ISBNs
2
ASINs
16