" A fourteen year old girl of Italian descent living in eastern British Columbia, Canada is promised in marriage to an older man of questionable character. The girl is frightened because of the look she sees in his eyes. From the beginning her husband treats her badly, finally getting her involved with his boss who uses her as a decoy in his bootlegging business in southern Alberta, Canada. When he is cornered by the police he thrusts a gun in her hand and during the confrontation the police officer is shot and the two escape into the forest near the Montana border. He tells her that if she will confess to the murder he will use his money to get her off as he has many government officials on his payroll. She confesses to the murder, but as the authorities have tried for years to break up his racketeering and he too is charged with the murder. They spend their time awaiting trial in separate prisons. They are both sentenced to hang and after many appeals the sentences are carried out. The story is full of local history and geography. The prohibition era in southern Alberta was full of colourful characters and the Italian community was strong and loyal. The author has faithfully used official documents and pictures in this well told book and it was thrilling to the end. The reader's heart ached for the plight of the young girl who was forced into a type of marriage/slavery that could only end in this disaster. "
Colleen Naqshbandi, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Bootlegger's Bride
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession:
- criminal (killer)
Job/profession/poverty story
Yes
Period of greatest activity?
- 1900+
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- accused criminal
Age:
- a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this person?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 4 (a fair amount)
Prairie?
Yes
Small town?
Yes
Misc setting
- prison
Century:
- 1900-1920's
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Book makes you feel?
- angry
Commentary on society?
Yes
Commentary on
- race
Unusual Style:
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Writer's slant towards subject:
- very favorable
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of nearly entire life
Is this a biography of several people?
Yes
Pictures/Illustrations?
- More 6-10 B&W
How much dialogue in bio?
- significantly more descript than dialog
A LOT of info about personal vices?
Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 76%-100% of book
