It was in the early days of the United States, when the Country decided to prohibit production, distribution and transportation of alcoholic beverages. Known as the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Volstead Act, the era started in 1920. At the time, Woodrow Wilson was President. During this time, the world inherited a love for prohibition era fiction, much of which holds at least some truth related to the time.
Politicians, such as William Jennings Bryan and others including members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK, ) saw to it that these laws were obeyed. In addition, the 18th Amendment was strongly supported by an ongoing temperance movement in many areas of the country. Still, the anti-alcohol ban was short lived in comparison to many other laws set during this period.
A black market being one of those problems. Although, to those operating within the bounds of this market, both provider and purchaser simply found ways around the law to provide and consume the banned liquid. The hidden agenda, gangsters of the time and the bootleggers gave way to a number of different books, stories, poems and prose related to the era.
Writers still write about this most interesting time in history. One of the most recent releases being a popular cable show, Boardwalk Empire, which continued for several seasons. A show that showed the good, and the bad sides of the issue. From the awards won, it appears the show has done a great job of relaying this information of the past to the people of the present.
Most fiction related to this era is based on the 1920s to the 1940s. Although, it was in the 1930s when the law was repealed. Most likely due to all the interesting characters and gangsters of the time. Whether Dillinger, Capone or other gangsters, many movies and shows reflect these characters on a regular and ongoing basis. Even today, new movies and shows are still being produced which are based on this most interesting time in history.
Whereas, another well known piece of fiction to have derived out of the era, is that of Mile High by Richard Condon. In this book, Condon takes a different approach than Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald's and Condon's characters are both bootleggers. Although, Condon is more intent on his character also being the reason behind the well known Volstead Act. His character's intent on keeping alcohol illegal in order to get rich through bootlegging is quite different from the intent of Fitzgerald's character.
Throughout the ages, there have been a number of other stories based on this period. One of the most recent being Boardwalk Empire, a cable series set in the period. While this is a well known cable show, there have also been a number of other shows and movies related to bootlegging and the days of prohibition throughout the history of the United States.
Some of these include, Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal, and Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America by Edward Samuel Behr. All of which have one thing in common regardless as to when each were published, and that is that each paint a clear picture of the era.
Politicians, such as William Jennings Bryan and others including members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK, ) saw to it that these laws were obeyed. In addition, the 18th Amendment was strongly supported by an ongoing temperance movement in many areas of the country. Still, the anti-alcohol ban was short lived in comparison to many other laws set during this period.
A black market being one of those problems. Although, to those operating within the bounds of this market, both provider and purchaser simply found ways around the law to provide and consume the banned liquid. The hidden agenda, gangsters of the time and the bootleggers gave way to a number of different books, stories, poems and prose related to the era.
Writers still write about this most interesting time in history. One of the most recent releases being a popular cable show, Boardwalk Empire, which continued for several seasons. A show that showed the good, and the bad sides of the issue. From the awards won, it appears the show has done a great job of relaying this information of the past to the people of the present.
Most fiction related to this era is based on the 1920s to the 1940s. Although, it was in the 1930s when the law was repealed. Most likely due to all the interesting characters and gangsters of the time. Whether Dillinger, Capone or other gangsters, many movies and shows reflect these characters on a regular and ongoing basis. Even today, new movies and shows are still being produced which are based on this most interesting time in history.
Whereas, another well known piece of fiction to have derived out of the era, is that of Mile High by Richard Condon. In this book, Condon takes a different approach than Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald's and Condon's characters are both bootleggers. Although, Condon is more intent on his character also being the reason behind the well known Volstead Act. His character's intent on keeping alcohol illegal in order to get rich through bootlegging is quite different from the intent of Fitzgerald's character.
Throughout the ages, there have been a number of other stories based on this period. One of the most recent being Boardwalk Empire, a cable series set in the period. While this is a well known cable show, there have also been a number of other shows and movies related to bootlegging and the days of prohibition throughout the history of the United States.
Some of these include, Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal, and Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America by Edward Samuel Behr. All of which have one thing in common regardless as to when each were published, and that is that each paint a clear picture of the era.
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