Item Description
Out of This Furnace is Thomas Bell’s most compelling achievement. Its story of three generations of an immigrant Slovak family -- the Dobrejcaks -- still stands as a fresh and extraordinary accomplishment.
The novel begins in the mid-1880s with the naive blundering career of Djuro Kracha. It tracks his arrival from the old country as he walked from New York to White Haven, his later migration to the steel mills of Braddock, and his eventual downfall through foolish financial speculations and an extramarital affair. The second generation is represented by Kracha’s daughter, Mary, who married Mike Dobrejcak, a steel worker. Their decent lives, made desperate by the inhuman working conditions of the mills, were held together by the warm bonds of their family life, and Mike’s political idealism set example for the children. Dobie Dobrejcak, the third generation, came of age in the 1920s determined not to be sacrificed to the mills. His involvement in the successful unionization of the steel industry climaxed a half-century struggle to establish economic justice for the workers.
Out of This Furnace is a document of ethnic heritage and of a violent and cruel period in our history, but it is also a superb story. The writing is strong and forthright, and the novel builds constantly to its triumphantly human conclusion.
Product Details
- Author: Thomas Bell
- Publication Date: 1976-06-30
- Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
- Product Group: Book
- Manufacturer: University of Pittsburgh Press
- Binding: Paperback, 424 pages
- Package Dimensions:
- Dimensions: 790L x 550W x 100H
- Weight: 105
- List Price: $17.95
- ISBN: 0822952734
- ASIN: 0822952734
Customer Reviews
Average Amazon User Rating:
A Slovak perspective of the pursuit for the American Dream
2009-10-05
Reviewer: Shawn Marchinek
Out of this Furnace by Thomas Bell is a powerful, emotional and well written reminder of what it is to be American. This book is the fictional account of 3 generations of a Slovak family that immigrated to America and got caught up in the Steel mills in Pennsylvania during the late 19th and early 20th century. As with any family one only hopes that each generation moves up a little in life.
Out of This Furnace, is a tale of human labor and fight for the basic American rights we take for granted. In so many cases, many think of the first Americans as those pilgrims arriving in wooden sailing ships and traders that fought Indians. Thomas Bell reminds us that everyday new Americans arrive here from different lands besides England, Ireland, Scotland or Germany. Here we have a Slovak family, from poor peasant roots in Eastern Europe who sailed in steerage on steel ships and find them selves working for Irish and English Foremen and Managers. These Slovaks have a little known Ethnic pride that the book helps bring out. As in all tales it is full of the human tragedy that haunted the factories of the early 1900's. Some chapters made me smile and laugh out loud while others brought tears to my eyes and made me really think about my own life and worth.
This book would be excellent for anyone interested in Slovak immigrants, the Steel mill labor movement or just a good ol' tale of the pursuit of the American dream from a different perspective. A page turner, heart tugging reminder of what America is about and how no matter how hard, life moves forward and time marches on.
Out Of This Furnace - review
2009-08-31
Reviewer: Scott A. Manninen
This book was recommended to me by my brother-in-law who resides in Pittsburgh.
Thomas Bell, the author, does a fantastic job of taking the reader back to the turn of the century and the birth of steel industry. Bell readily admits borrowing from his own family's history to detail everyday family activities and the grind of what it meant to be working in the steel mills of Western Pennsylvania. These are the same stories I have heard from my friends as they have been passed from generation to generation. The book is engaging, gritty, heart-breaking, honest and filled with history. Anyone who has had family members work in the steel mills could read this book and likely see their own family's life unfold. Congratulations, Thomas Bell.
The Best Part is the End
2008-12-17
Reviewer: Michael N. Yotz
I enjoyed this book because my mother's family was Slovak and they came to this country around the turn of the century. My mother's father settled in South Side and her uncle lived in Munhall. With the main focus of this book being Slovaks in Homestead-Munhall-Braddock; I knew this this book was a must-read.
As stories go, this one would be only so-so; if it wasn't for my background, as mentioned above. But, please read the end-notes first. They explain, how the author used his real family history for all of the charators in the book. After reading that, you get a better understanding of the story. Some of the people who rated this book at 1-2 stars, say that they didn't finish the book. Well, I think they missed the best part.
Excellent
2008-12-02
Reviewer: R. Wiggum
I highly recommend this novel as a classic. The author did an amazing job making the characters come to life. I found it incredible that this book was based on the author's actual family which endured the struggles of this small steel-mill town. The tales of these immigrants are incredible and reminded me what America is all about.
Great instructional resource
2007-07-20
Reviewer: A. ONEILL
Very powerful book. This is perfect for teachers who want an emotional connection to immigration and the Industrial Revolution for their students. A great story for the casual reader, too!
