LibGuides: Islington Branch Book Club: "The Ghosts of Eden Park" by Karen Abbott

About the Author: Karen Abbott

Karen Abbott is an American author known for her historical non-fiction books that vividly bring to life captivating stories from the past. While there isn't an extensive biography available, here's what is known about her:

Early Life: Karen Abbott was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She developed a passion for history from a young age, which ultimately influenced her career as a writer.

Career: Abbott began her career as a journalist, writing for various publications including Philadelphia magazine and Philadelphia Weekly. Her transition to writing historical non-fiction occurred when she became fascinated by a forgotten story from history while researching a magazine article.

Literary Works: Karen Abbott is best known for her meticulously researched and vividly narrated historical non-fiction books.

Some of her notable works include:

"Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul" (2007): This book explores the colorful and scandalous history of Chicago's Everleigh Club, one of the most famous brothels in American history, during the early 20th century.
"American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee" (2010): Abbott delves into the life of Gypsy Rose Lee, the iconic burlesque performer and actress, offering a fascinating portrait of both the woman and the era in which she lived.
"Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War" (2014): In this book, Abbott recounts the true stories of four remarkable women who served as spies during the American Civil War, shedding light on their courage and contributions to history.
"The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America" (2019): Abbott tells the captivating story of George Remus, a notorious bootlegger during Prohibition, and the murder case that captivated America in the 1920s.

Writing Style: Karen Abbott is praised for her engaging narrative style, meticulous research, and ability to bring historical events and figures to life with vivid detail. Her books often blend elements of biography, social history, and true crime to create compelling and immersive narratives.

While Karen Abbott tends to keep a relatively low public profile, her work as an author has garnered critical acclaim and earned her a dedicated readership. Through her books, she continues to shine a light on fascinating and often overlooked stories from America's past.

Synopsis

The epic true crime story of bootlegger George Remus and the murder that shocked the nation, from the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City and Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy In the early days of Prohibition, long before Al Capone became a household name, a German immigrant named George Remus quits practicing law and starts trafficking whiskey. Within two years he's a multi-millionaire. The press calls him "King of the Bootleggers," writing breathless stories about the Gatsby-esque events he and his glamorous second wife, Imogene, host at their Cincinnati mansion, with party favors ranging from diamond jewelry for the men to brand-new Pontiacs for the women. By the summer of 1921, Remus owns 35 percent of all the liquor in the United States. Pioneering prosecutor Mabel Walker Willebrandt is determined to bring him down. Willebrandt's bosses at the U.S. Attorney's office hired her right out of law school, assuming she'd pose no real threat to the cozy relationship they maintain with Remus. Eager to prove them wrong, she dispatches her best investigator, Franklin Dodge, to look into his empire. It's a decision with deadly consequences: with Remus behind bars, Franklin and Imogene begin an affair and plot to ruin him, sparking a bitter feud that soon reaches the highest levels of government--and that can only end in murder. Combining deep historical research with novelistic flair, The Ghosts of Eden Park is the unforgettable, stranger-than-fiction story of a rags-to-riches entrepreneur and a long-forgotten heroine, of the excesses and absurdities of the Jazz Age, and of the infinite human capacity to deceive.

Discussion Questions

Character Analysis:
- Analyze the character of George Remus. What qualities and characteristics define him as a person? How does the author portray his rise to power and eventual downfall?
Prohibition Era:
- Discuss the historical context of the Prohibition era in the United States. How did Prohibition impact society, culture, and the economy? In what ways did it lead to the rise of organized crime and bootlegging?
Crime and Justice:
- Explore the themes of crime and justice in the book. How does the murder case involving George Remus highlight the complexities of the legal system during the Prohibition era? What role did corruption and bribery play in the pursuit of justice?
Gender Roles and Women's Empowerment:
- Consider the role of women in "The Ghosts of Eden Park," particularly regarding Mabel Walker Willebrandt's involvement in the case. How does the book depict the challenges and opportunities faced by women during this time period?
Ethics and Morality:
- Reflect on the ethical dilemmas presented in the book, such as the conflicts between legality and morality during Prohibition. How do the characters grapple with these issues, and what are the consequences of their actions?
Power and Corruption:
- Discuss the themes of power and corruption in the book. How does George Remus wield his influence and manipulate those around him? What does his story reveal about the nature of power and its corrupting effects?
Narrative Structure:
- Evaluate the author's narrative structure and storytelling techniques. How does Karen Abbott weave together historical research, personal anecdotes, and vivid descriptions to bring the story to life?
Social Commentary:
- Consider the book's commentary on social issues such as class, race, and privilege during the Prohibition era. How do these factors shape the experiences and actions of the characters in the book?
Legacy and Impact:
- Reflect on the lasting impact of George Remus and the events depicted in the book. How has his story shaped popular culture and perceptions of the Prohibition era?
Relevance Today:
- Discuss the relevance of the themes and events in "The Ghosts of Eden Park" to contemporary society. In what ways do the issues explored in the book resonate with modern-day audiences?

MLN Materials

book
large print book

Audiobook Versions

Libby

Gentlemen Bootleggers by Bryce T. Bauer
Call Number: 363.41 BAUER
Gentlemen Bootleggers tells a never-before-told tale of ingenuity, bootstrapping, and perseverance in one small town, showcasing a group of immigrants and first-generation Americans who embraced the ideals of self-reliance, dynamism, and democratic justice. It relies on previously classified Prohibition Bureau investigation files, federal court case files, extensive newspaper archive research, and a recently disclosed interview with kingpin Joe Irlbeck. Unlike other Prohibition-era tales of big-city gangsters, it provides an important reminder that bootlegging wasn't only about glory and riches, but could be in the service of a higher goal: producing the best whiskey money could buy.
Saving Sin City by Mary Cummings
Call Number: 364.1523 Cummings
When Stanford White, one of the most famous architects of the era--whose mark on New York City is second to none--was murdered by Harry K. Thaw in 1906, his death become known as "The Crime of the Century." But there were other players in this love triangle gone wrong that would play a part in the incredible story of White's murderer. Chief among them was the ambitious district attorney William Travers Jerome, who had the opportunity to make--or break--his career with his prosecution of Thaw. Award-winning journalist Mary Cummings reveals a new angle to this incredible crime through Jerome's story--a story that is ripe for our post-"Serial" era. Thaw was the debauched and deranged heir to a Pittsburgh fortune who had a sadistic streak. White was an artistic genius and one of the world's premier architects who would become obsessed with a teenaged chorus girl, Evelyn Nesbit. White preyed on Nesbit, who, in a surprising twist, also became a fixation for Thaw. Nesbit and Thaw would later marry, but Thaw's lingering jealousy and anger toward White over his past history with Nesbit would explosively culminate in White's shocking murder--and the even more shocking trial of Thaw for a murder that was committed in front of dozens of eye witnesses. The promising young D.A. would find his faith in himself and the law severely tested as he battled colorful crooks, licentious grandees, and corrupt politicians. Cummings brilliant reveals the social issues simmering below the surface of New York that Jerome had to face. Filled with mesmerizing drama, rich period details, and fascinating characters, Saving Sin City sheds fresh light on crimes whose impact still echoes throughout the twenty-first century.
Tinseltown by William J. Mann
Call Number: 364.1523 Mann
In a fiendishly involving narrative, bestselling Hollywood chronicler William J. Mann draws on a rich host of sources, including recently released FBI files, to unpack the story of the enigmatic Taylor and the diverse cast that surrounded him--including three beautiful, ambitious actresses; a grasping stage mother; a devoted valet; and a gang of two-bit thugs, any of whom might have fired the fatal bullet. And overseeing this entire landscape of intrigue was Adolph Zukor, the brilliant and ruthless founder of Paramount, locked in a struggle for control of the industry and desperate to conceal the truth about the crime. Along the way, Mann brings to life Los Angeles in the Roaring Twenties: a sparkling yet schizophrenic town filled with party girls, drug dealers, religious zealots, newly-minted legends and starlets already past their prime--a dangerous place where the powerful could still run afoul of the desperate.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Call Number: 976.6 Grann
Presents a true account of the early twentieth-century murders of dozens of wealthy Osage and law-enforcement officials, citing the contributions and missteps of a fledgling FBI that eventually uncovered one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.

*ebook & audiobook on Libby
*audiobook on hoopla
The Bourbon King by Bob Batchelor
Call Number: BIOGRAPHY Remus
Publication Date: 2019-09-0
On the 100th anniversary of The Volstead Act comes the epic, definitive story of the man who cracked the Prohibition system, became one of the world's richest criminal masterminds, and helped inspire The Great Gatsby. Love, murder, political intrigue, mountains of cash, and rivers of bourbon... The tale of George Remus is a grand spectacle and a lens into the dark heart of Prohibition. Yes, Congress gave teeth to Prohibition in October 1919, but the law didn't stop George Remus from amassing a fortune that would be worth billions of dollars today. As one Jazz Age journalist put it, "Remus was to bootlegging what Rockefeller was to oil." Author Bob Batchelor breathes life into the largest bootlegging operation in America--greater than that of Al Capone--and a man considered the best criminal defense lawyer of his era. Remus bought an empire of distilleries on Kentucky's "Bourbon Trail" and used his other profession, as a pharmacist, to profit off legal loopholes. He spent millions bribing officials in the Harding Administration, and he created a roaring lifestyle that epitomized the Jazz Age over which he ruled. That is, before he came crashing down in one of the most sensational murder cases in American history: a cheating wife, the G-man who seduced her and put Remus in jail, and the plunder of a Bourbon Empire. Remus murdered his wife in cold-blood and then shocked a nation winning his freedom based on a condition he invented--temporary maniacal insanity.