The Infernal Machine
A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective
$33.40
- Paperback
384 pages
- Release Date
27 May 2025
Summary
WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FACT CRIME
A sweeping account of the anarchists who terrorized the streets of New York and the detective duo who transformed policing to meet the threat—a tale of fanaticism, forensic science, and dynamite from the bestselling author of The Ghost Map.
“A fast-burning fuse of a book, every page bursting with revelatory detail.” - Erik Larson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Demon of Unrest
“Well researched…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780593443972 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0593443977 |
| Author: | Steven Johnson |
| Publisher: | Random House USA Inc |
| Imprint: | Random House Inc |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 384 |
| Release Date: | 27 May 2025 |
| Weight: | 330g |
| Dimensions: | 203mm x 132mm |
What They're Saying
Critics Review
“Dynamite, cops, anarchists—what more could you ask for? With narrative élan, Johnson tells the story of how an ‘infernal’ invention forever disrupted our political world. It’s a fast-burning fuse of a book, every page bursting with revelatory detail.”—Erik Larson, New York Times bestselling author of The Splendid and the Vile
“[An] action-packed history… . At the center of the narrative are Russian-Jewish immigrant radicals Alexander Berkman… . and Emma Goldman [his] sometime lover. Full of rousing speeches, feverish conspiracies, and tearful leave-takings, their soap opera-like story gives the book a romantic sheen… . Johnson’s entertaining true crime picaresque coalesces around the resonant irony of anarchists who dreamed of a stateless society getting crushed by an evermore powerful surveillance state… . The result is a captivating saga of vehement political passions quelled by cold technocracy.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Johnson’s vivid, eye-opening history chronicles epic labor-movement battles, terrorist bombings
failed and tragic, backlash against immigrants, love affairs, undercover operations, courtroom dramas, and prison life in a fast-paced narrative rich in cinematic moments and resonance.”—Booklist, starred review
“Drawing parallels with contemporary acts of terrorism and governmental abuses of power in monitoring citizens, Johnson makes history part of an ongoing story we all need to consider. Smart, accessible, and highly readable.”—Kirkus Reviews
About The Author
Steven Johnson
Steven Johnson is the bestselling author of thirteen books, including Enemy of All Mankind, Where Good Ideas Come From, How We Got to Now, The Ghost Map, and Extra Life. He’s the host and co-creator of the Emmy-winning PBS/BBC series How We Got to Now, the host of the podcast The TED Interview, and the author of the newsletter Adjacent Possible. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Marin County, California, with his wife and their three sons.
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