Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Chicago History - Paperback

by Adam Selzer (Author), William Griffith (Author)

The lives of notorious bad guys, perpetrators of mischief, visionary--if misunderstood--thinkers, and other colorful antiheroes, jerks, and evil doers from history all get their due in the short essays featured in these enlightening, informative books. Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Chicago History features 15 short biographies of nefarious characters.

Back Jacket

A delightfully wicked look at the badly behaved characters who shaped the history of the Windy Citythrough their deeds and misdeeds. Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Chicago History features twenty-five short profiles of notorious bad guys, perpetrators of mischief, visionary if misunderstood thinkers, and other colorful antiheroes from the history of the Windy City. It reveals the dark side of some well-known and even revered characters from Chicago's past--both part-time Jerks and others who were Jerks through and through. They include: Chicago's first notable jerk, John Kinzie, who established himself as a fur trader in 1804 and murdered a competitor in 1812Adolph Luetgert, the Sausage King of Chicago, whose wife disappeared under mysterious circumstancesCharles Comiskey, owner of the infamous Chicago "Black Sox"

Author Biography

Adam Selzer is the author of several books, including the critically acclaimed novels How to Get Suspended and Influence People and I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It. He has also written nonfiction with a focus on Chicago history and folklore, including The Smart Aleck's Guide to American History, Your Neightborhood Gives Me the Creeps, and Fatal Drop: True Tales of the Chicago Gallows. He works nights running tours in Chicago, and is the host of the Chicago Unbelievable podcast and blog. He frequently speaks at schools and libraries about Chicago history and Chicago ghost stories. He has been featured on The Mancow Radio Show, NPR, Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, PBS, and several cable channels.