An Accidental Anarchist is an eminently readable expose of a near-forgotten race-and-politics incident and its fallout in turn-of-the-century Chicago history. On March 2, 1908, a recent Jewish immigrant named Averbuch appear on the doorstep of Chief of Police. Averbuch was promptly killed and labeled an anarchist-out-to-murder-the-Chief-of-Police -- possibly (likely?) incorrectly. Although to this day there is no consensus on Averbuch's motivations on turning up that morning on the rich side of town, the book details the incident, its possible motivations on both sides, and its fallout and relationships to turn-of-the-century politics, fears, ethnic issues, and Chicago history more broadly.

I was surprised at the extent to which I stayed engaged in this book, since I am not a history buff, nor interested in anarchy, nor particularly in Chicago history. As I said earlier, however, it's eminently readable and traces out all the information surrounding this event from the records, contextualizing it in a way that means I learned things I never knew before (including something as basic as that anarchism was a serious fear in 1908 -- oops. musta missed that day in high school.) I was also actually surprised by the active role that many women had in the story -- Emma Goldman, prominent anarchist, and Jane Addams, prominent humanitarian, in particular. Lots of new information on all counts.

Definitely recommended for people interested in Chicago history pre-WWI, race, politics, ethnicity, or anarchism -- or especially to anyone interested in their intersection. ( )