Flesh and blood so cheap : the Triangle fire and its legacy / Albert Marrin

Includes bibliographical references (p. [164]-177) and index.

Prelude : the tragic heart -- Huddled masses -- Into the magic cauldron -- Flesh and blood so cheap -- An overflow of suffering : uprising of the 20,000 -- The third gate : fire at the triangle -- A stricken conscience -- The price of liberty.

In 1911, a fire broke out in a garment factory in New York City that took the lives of 146 workers, primarily poor Jewish and Italian immigrants. It had an enormous impact on workplace conditions that reverberates even today. This comprehensive volume focuses not only on the day of the fire itself, but also on the individuals, events, and circumstances that led to the disaster and created the conditions that caused so many people to perish. Marrin also explores the aftermath of the tragedy, including union development, workplace safety regulations, and workers' rights. A final chapter examines working conditions in factories around the globe and how safety standards are compromised throughout the developing world. The writing is compelling and detailed, and the author effectively manages to bridge the gap between detached expository writing and emotionally charged content. Period photographs are an essential part of the story being told here, and short sidebars about key people help flesh out the narrative.