内容简介
The fascinating story of a long-forgotten "war on terror" thathas much in common with our own On a February evening in 1894, ayoung radical intellectual named mile Henry drank two beers at anupscale Parisian restaurant, then left behind a bomb as a partinggift. This incident, which rocked the French capital, lies at theheart of The Dynamite Club, a mesmerizing account of Henry and hiscohorts and the war they waged against the bourgeoisiesetting offbombs in public places, killing the president of France, andeventually assassinating President McKinley in 1901. Paris in thebelle poque was a place of leisure, elegance, and power. Newlyelectrified, the citys wide boulevards were lined with poshdepartment stores and outdoor cafs. But prosperity was limited to afew. Most lived in dire poverty, and workers and intellectualsfound common cause in a political philosophyanarchismthat embracedthe overthrow of the state by any means necessary. Yet in targetingcivilians to achieve their ends, the dynamite bombers charted a newcourse. Seeking martyrdom, believing fervently in their goal, andprovoking a massive government reaction that only increased theirranks, these "evildoers" became, in effect, the first terrorists inmodern history. Surprising and provocative, The Dynamite Club is abrilliantly researched account that illuminates a period ofdramatic social and political changeand subtly asks us to reflectupon our own.