Flesh and Blood So Cheap
Flesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy
Flesh and Blood So Cheap
Albert Marrin
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City burst into flames.  The factory was crowded.  The doors were locked to ensure workers stay inside.  One hundred forty-six people—mostly women—perished; it was one of the most lethal workplace fires in American history until September 11, 2001.But the story of the fire is not the story of one accidental moment in time.  It is a story of immigration and hard work to make it in a new country, as Italians and Jews and others traveled to America to find a better life.  It is the story of poor working conditions and greedy bosses, as garment workers discovered the endless sacrifices required to make ends meet.  It is the story of unimaginable, but avoidable, disaster.  And it the story of the unquenchable pride and activism of fearless immigrants and women who stood up to business, got America on their side, and finally changed working conditions for our entire nation, initiating radical new laws we take for granted today.With Flesh and Blood So Cheap, Albert Marrin has crafted a gripping, nuanced, and poignant account of one of America's defining tragedies.

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Historical Nonfiction

Age Level: 

  • 12 and up
Profile Picture

The year: 1911, the month: March. All seemed normal to the workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, but, almost out of nowhere, a blazing fire devoured the building, showing no mercy. But what happened before the fire? What is the Triangle Shirtwaist factory? This is the story of the labor workers put in to this facility, the pain endured as men and women worked 15 hour shifts, and the tragic events that occurred on March 25, 1911.

To add your comments, login above or request a LitPick membership.