Life, 1901-05-30 · page 20 of 22
Life — May 30, 1901 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a book advertisement, not a cartoon. Life magazine is promoting Alfred Henry Lewis's biography of Richard Croker, the powerful boss of Tammany Hall (New York's Democratic political machine). The ad emphasizes that this is "the only authorized biography" and describes it as essential reading for understanding Croker ahead of an upcoming New York municipal election. The text positions the book as valuable for both Croker's supporters and critics, claiming Lewis provides balanced coverage of both his "good qualities" and "faults." For modern readers: Tammany Hall was synonymous with urban machine politics and corruption; this advertisement reflects the public fascination with—and anxiety about—powerful political bosses during the Progressive Era. The $2.00 price and green cloth binding indicate it was marketed as a serious, substantial work.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
By ALFRED HENRY LEWIS. The Only Authorized Biography of the Great Tammany Leader. Green Cloth and Gold, $2.00. Mlustrated. N something like four hundred pages of clearly printed text Mr. Lewis, whose ] vigorous American style of writing has become familiar to the public through his earlier books, “ Wolfville”) and “Sandburrs,” tells the story of Mr. Croker’s life. The author has studied his subject at close range and has taken the measure of the Democratic Chieftain with rare accuracy. “RICHARD CROKER” is more than a biography. It tells the story of Mr. Croker’s life in most entertaining fashion, but besides this, it is a char- acter study and gives us an intimate and accurate estimate of one of the most conspicuous and interesting figures in American life. Mr. Croker’s friends will recognize the faithful portrayal of his good qualities, and his enemies—for Mr. Lewis has been frank as well as just—will find his faults portrayed with equal fidelity. “RICHARD CROKER” is a book which will become a standard and must find a place in every library, public and private. It is of interest not only to the politician and student of public life, but the general reader will find it a fascinating account of a remarkable man and a remarkable career. The coming municipal election in New York will be the fight of Mr. Croker’s life. He will be constantly in the public eye, and Mr. Lewis’s book provides a thorough understanding of the man, his methods and the forces and machinery at his command. No one who expects to follow the contest intelli- gently can afford to be without the knowledge contained in what is, in fact, the sole complete biography of Richard Croker. May be ordered through the trade, or will be sent, carriage prepaid, on receipt of $2.00. LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 19 and 21 West Thirty-first Street, NEW YORK CITY, 990000000900 O000000000O000O0OOO0 HOOOODOO OP ODO DOODOOOODOOOOIOOOD