Hot Time in the Old Town....not so hot

Hot Time in the Old Town: The Great Heat Wave of 1896 and the Making of Theodore Roosevelt by Edward P. Kohn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I originally picked up Hot Time in the Old Town after hearing an interview with the author on NPR's Fresh Air.  As someone who is interested in our history, particularly those moments that resonate with our present times, I found the book to be uneven (hence the three star rating). 

Far and away, the best parts of this book are those that take the reader into the dark and dank tenements and illustrate in rich detail the cramp and stifling conditions.  Kohn draws upon contemporary reports from the time period such as those written by Jacob Riis to bring into vivid detail how the rising temperatures left poor immigrants vulnerable to the ravages of extreme heat.  His description of the conditions in the city and the impact of the heat wave on its residents is fascinating.

When he ventures from the streets and tenements into the terrain of city and national politics, the book begins to lose its luster.  The reader is certainly provided with rich background on Theodore Roosevelt and his political career.  However, when Kohn attempts to link the events surrounding the heat wave to "the making of Theodore Roosevelt" he is on shaky ground.  Certainly, the reader sees in Roosevelt's response to the heat wave his distaste of concentrations of power and a compassion for those less fortunate, but his claim that this event was instrumental in establishing his political standing is not well supported.

Readers who enjoyed the historical novels of Caleb Carr (The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness) will find the account of city life and the struggles of the working poor interesting context.  If however, readers enter the text looking for explanations for Theodore Roosevelt's rise to national prominence will find themselves on a lost search.

Here is a clip of Jon Stewart's interview with Edward Kohn author of Hot Time in the Old Town:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Edward Kohn
www.thedailyshow.com
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