NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERCombining hard-hitting investigative journalism and a sweeping family narrative; this provocative true story reveals a little-known chapter of American history: the period after the Brown v. Board of Education decision when one Virginia school system refused to integrate.In the wake of the Supreme Court’s unanimous Brown v. Board of Education decision; Virginia’s Prince Edward County refused to obey the law. Rather than desegregate; the county closed its public schools; locking and chaining the doors. The community’s white leaders quickly established a private academy; commandeering supplies from the shuttered public schools to use in their all-white classrooms. Meanwhile; black parents had few options: keep their kids at home; move across county lines; or send them to live with relatives in other states. For five years; the schools remained closed.Kristen Green; a longtime newspaper reporter; grew up in Farmville and attended Prince Edward Academy; which did not admit black students until 1986. In her journey to uncover what happened in her hometown before she was born; Green tells the stories of families divided by the school closures and of 1;700 black children denied an education. As she peels back the layers of this haunting period in our nation’s past; her own family’s role—no less complex and painful—comes to light.At once gripping; enlightening; and deeply moving; Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County is a dramatic chronicle that explores our troubled racial past and its reverberations today; and a timeless story about compassion; forgiveness; and the meaning of home.
#33887 in Books Mann William J 2015-10-06 2015-10-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .84 x 5.31l; .0 #File Name: 0062242199528 pagesTinseltown Murder Morphine and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood
Review
82 of 86 people found the following review helpful. Hollywood murder mysteryBy woganWilliam J. Mann writes a detailed investigation concerning all who were near or implicated in the murder of William Desmond Taylor president of the Motion Picture Directors Association. One good point in his favor is that he does not make up dialogue. He uses reports of what was actually said. His details and telling uses much minutia - giving the background and character of the many people that surrounded TaylorAt places the story jumps; he will tell about an incident; but not fully and then go on with the narrative and the character's background and habits and then jump back to what the exact subject was in the first place. The riddles of the case are slowly unraveled and the crime; in the end "is solved" by a dying woman's confession. Other than that there is still no real evidence.We also learn something about the early film industry; especially the rivalry between Adolph Zukor and Marcus Loew. The morality of much of Hollywood during these years of the new motion picture industry is explained.This is a book that has much detail and description of many relatively unknown Hollywood personalities. Those who want to learn about the new motion picture industry in 1920 and a crime that was huge news; but forgotten in later years might enjoy reading this book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Greed; sex; and bad behavior trump murder; morphine; and madness?By RSRSMy favorite actress used to be Bette Davis. Although I don't follow films to the same extent these days; I'm still fascinated by the idea of Hollywood and how the film industry evolved. To me; that's the best part of "Tinseltown." Considering the book's subtitle - Murder; Morphine; and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood - I'd just as soon do away with the murder aspect and focus on how Hollywood developed the way it did. Mann does that to a certain extent; and that part of the book was highly enjoyable. But I could have done without William Desmond Taylor and the mystery of who murdered him.Fascinating aspects of the book:1. Competition between producers (Adolph Zukor) and theatre owners (Marcus Loew) to determine who would dominate.2. Actresses acting up - even (or especially?) in the 1920s. Plenty of booze; drugs; and bad behavior. Extramarital sex? Tut; Tut!3. The morality police - outraged "church ladies" trying to tone down what passed in those days for R- and X-rated movies. Imagine what they'd have to say about today's films. Since this was the era of Prohibition; however; I suppose a certain amount of outrage was inevitable.4. Anti-trust concerns in the land of eternal sun.5. Fatty Arbuckle's trials and tribulations.Lots of fascinating folks in this book. William Desmond Taylor himself wasn't developed enough to be one of them.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. I couldn't walk away from it !!!By FrankI couldn't walk away from it !!! A true-crime story very skilfully told in novel form. If like me you are a fan of factual stories about "Old Hollywood" and a whodunit then buy this book. Mr. Mann certainly did his homework. So much was going on in Hollywood at the time. Drugs; Drinking; Reformers;Greed;ambition; the birth of an industry and the problems created by those taking these things to extreme. Also by those who felt they were above it all. Mann used all of this to skillfully craft a portrait of the time. A most colorful backdrop for the story. Bravo! It's not just another mediocre Hollywood word fest that in the end leaves the reader shaking their head skeptically. I was consumed and completely drawn in. I had to know all that the author came to realize. I was not disappointed. All details throughout are completely dealt with and wrapped up in the end. No stone left un-turned and no story line left hanging. An unsolved murder is Intriguing. This one hung out there for a long time. Perhaps partially solved. I now believe we know all we are ever going to know thanks to William Mann. I'm looking forward to the flicker :) ..
