After starting a thread about the HBO series 'Deadwood' and querying how true to real life in the period it was, I asked the forum for suggestions of another boxed set that might interest me as as a student of social history that was entertaining at the same time.
Many suggestions were made but by far the most popular was 'Boardwalk Empire', a huge 23 DVD boxed set. I read most of the Amazon reviews and the order was placed.
It took about halfway through the first season before I started to get to know the characters and their respective places in the story and I was hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed binge watching this fantastic series over the christmas period (when the UK channels show their dullest of dull output for the masses). I watched the last disc on my birthday (30th Dec) and was sad it was all over. Superb cast and acting, amazing studio sets I really couldn't fault it...though I did question why on the opening sequence to every episode there were hundreds of bottles of bootleg liquour floating in the sea...surely they would sink? Oh, and Steve Buscemi's two tone brogues were to die for!
Anyway, what both these series did for me was to pique my interest in American history, particularly the social aspect of things. I looked into and bought my first Kentucky Bourbon whiskies which I thoroughly enjoyed, my ex girlfriend hearing of this bought me another to add to my small collection.
I also read up all I could find on the American crime scene of both time periods, I learned more about the Volstead Act (already knew the basics), I even bought myself a map so as I knew where all the States were relative to each other.
On a recent thread (that was closed) two people suggested I buy the 'People's History Of The United States' by Howard Zinn. I just read reviews and have downloaded a sample to my Kindle to peruse...thanks chaps for the suggestion. If it's as good as it sounds I shall purchase the book.
I do have relations in America though we are not in contact, they all now being distant cousins. Many of my 'lot' settled in Provo, Bountiful and Salt Lake City back in the 19th century from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and were among the original pioneer settlers in Utah. I do have some written texts of their trials and tribulations plus quite a few photographs. One terribly sad tale relates to a 15 yearold Reuben Birkin (1st cousin once removed) who was crushed under the wheels of a wagon after the horses were spooked by a dog whilst at camp on the trail. They managed to get the severely injured lad to Provo but it was too late.
"Reuben Birkin has died from loss of blood and shock to the system, caused by having his leg mutilated and being dragged 40 yards in a cartwheel. In Provo City, Utah, America. Five doctors were present at the amputation on April 2nd, and he died at 7:30 P.M., after a few hours delirium, in which he thought he was driving the horse or shouting at the dog. Kind friends dressed the poor youth's body in American fashion as follows:- shirt, drawers, linen trousers, all white, and a bunch of white violets pinned on the breast. The coffin was of red pine. Deceased had many friends in Hucknall [Nottinghamshire] who will be sorry to hear of his death."
So, my interest in American history now piqued, thanks in large part to this forum, I have a lot to catch up on :
:
Regards,
Jay.
Many suggestions were made but by far the most popular was 'Boardwalk Empire', a huge 23 DVD boxed set. I read most of the Amazon reviews and the order was placed.
It took about halfway through the first season before I started to get to know the characters and their respective places in the story and I was hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed binge watching this fantastic series over the christmas period (when the UK channels show their dullest of dull output for the masses). I watched the last disc on my birthday (30th Dec) and was sad it was all over. Superb cast and acting, amazing studio sets I really couldn't fault it...though I did question why on the opening sequence to every episode there were hundreds of bottles of bootleg liquour floating in the sea...surely they would sink? Oh, and Steve Buscemi's two tone brogues were to die for!
Anyway, what both these series did for me was to pique my interest in American history, particularly the social aspect of things. I looked into and bought my first Kentucky Bourbon whiskies which I thoroughly enjoyed, my ex girlfriend hearing of this bought me another to add to my small collection.
I also read up all I could find on the American crime scene of both time periods, I learned more about the Volstead Act (already knew the basics), I even bought myself a map so as I knew where all the States were relative to each other.
On a recent thread (that was closed) two people suggested I buy the 'People's History Of The United States' by Howard Zinn. I just read reviews and have downloaded a sample to my Kindle to peruse...thanks chaps for the suggestion. If it's as good as it sounds I shall purchase the book.
I do have relations in America though we are not in contact, they all now being distant cousins. Many of my 'lot' settled in Provo, Bountiful and Salt Lake City back in the 19th century from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and were among the original pioneer settlers in Utah. I do have some written texts of their trials and tribulations plus quite a few photographs. One terribly sad tale relates to a 15 yearold Reuben Birkin (1st cousin once removed) who was crushed under the wheels of a wagon after the horses were spooked by a dog whilst at camp on the trail. They managed to get the severely injured lad to Provo but it was too late.
"Reuben Birkin has died from loss of blood and shock to the system, caused by having his leg mutilated and being dragged 40 yards in a cartwheel. In Provo City, Utah, America. Five doctors were present at the amputation on April 2nd, and he died at 7:30 P.M., after a few hours delirium, in which he thought he was driving the horse or shouting at the dog. Kind friends dressed the poor youth's body in American fashion as follows:- shirt, drawers, linen trousers, all white, and a bunch of white violets pinned on the breast. The coffin was of red pine. Deceased had many friends in Hucknall [Nottinghamshire] who will be sorry to hear of his death."
So, my interest in American history now piqued, thanks in large part to this forum, I have a lot to catch up on :
:Regards,
Jay.
